Lapithae genus Heroinae Centaurâ—s mâ—dâ—o grata rapâ—â—a meâ—o Such as Iscomache that was Of the Lâ—â—y 〈…〉 She whom the Centaurs would have rapt Amâ—dst their cups of wine Perâ—â—les for his love to Aspasia made was against the Samians For Chrysaeis the daughter of Chryses Priest to Apollo 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 a plague was sent amongst the the Greekish host which ceased not till she was returned back to her father for so writes Tortellius Lavinia's beauty the daughter of King Latinus and the Queen Amata was cause of the combâ—â—ion betwixt Turnus and Aeneas so saith 〈◊〉 lib. 4. de Sâ—â—llis Lysimachâ—â— the son of Agathocles poisoned his own son Agathocles by whose fortunate hand he had received the honour and benefit of many glorious victories at the instigation of his wife Arsinoe the sister of Prolomaeus 〈◊〉 Iphis a youth of exquisite feature stranglâ—â— himselfe because he was despised by the fair but cruell Anaxarite Archelaus King of Macedon was slain by a young man called Craâ—â—na because having first promised him his faire daughter he after bestowed her upon another The Poet Archilocus called Iambographus because Lycâ—â—bes denied him his daughter in marriage writes against him such bitter Iambicks that he despaired and hanged himselfe therefore Ovid thus writes Post modo si pâ—ges in te mihi liber Iambus Tincta Licambaeo sanguine â—ela dabit If thou pursu'st me still my book Just vengeance shall implore And in Iambick weapons yeeld Dipt in Lycambes gore Justine in his twenty seventh book relates That Seleucus Callinicus King of Syria for exiling Berenice his step-mother sister to Ptolomaeus was by the same Ptolomaeus invaded and prosecuted by armes Deipâ—â—bus after the death of Paris having married Hellâ—n to which infortunate match her beauty had invited him was by her treachery not only murdered but his body hackt and mangled being almost made one universall wound Tortellius reports of one Evander the nephew 〈◊〉 Pallâ—s King of the Arcadians at the perswasion of his mother Nicostrate slâ—w his own father Orestes the son of Agameâ—â—â—n slew Pyrrhus the son of Achilles being surprised with the beauty of Hermione daughter to Meneâ—eus and Helena 〈◊〉 King of the Thebans was slain by King Crâ—eon being betraied by his own Polydices Cleopatra was the cause of that bloody war betwixt Ptolomaeus Philâ—pater and her own father Alexander King of Syria Idas and Lyncaeus the sons of Aphareus and Arbarne fought a great battel neer to Sparta about the two fair daughters of Leuâ—ippus Phebe and â—â—aira against Castor and Pollux both which were slaine in that battell and perisht not by shipwrack as some write in the pursuit of Paris by sea for the rape of their sister Hellen. Liâ—y lib 36. writes of Antiochus who warning against Rome was so taken with the beauty of a 〈…〉 that neglecting all warlike discipline to spend his 〈…〉 with his wanton he became a 〈…〉 to the enemy Octavia the sister of Augâ—lius being repudiâ—ted by Anthony was the 〈◊〉 of a civill and intestine war The Poet Lucretius growâ—â—◠〈◊〉 for the love of a 〈◊〉 damosell drank poison and so died Tullia incited â—â—rquinius Sâ—perbus to kill her own father Servius Tullius Martia the strumper caused Antonius Commodus the Emperor whose Concubine she was to 〈◊〉 slain by a souldier with whom she had many times lustfull congression Titus Corrancanus being sent on Embassie to Teuca Queen of the Illyrians because he spake to her â—reely and boldly she caused him to be put to death against the lawes of Kingdomes and Nations Livius and Florus Vollaâ—eranus writes of one Rhodoricus King of the Goths who because he stupâ—ated the daughter of Iulianus who was Prefect in the Province or Tingitana the father of the ravisht virgin brought in the Mooâ—s and raised a war which before it was ended was the death of seven hundred thousand men Chilpericus the son of Clothâ—rius was slain by the instigation of his wife Fridegunda in his return from hunting Luchinus a Court of Italy waâ—ied upon Vgolinus Gonzaga because he had adulterated his fair wife Isabella Vollaâ—â—ran Otratus King of Bohemia accused of sloath and cowardise by his wife Margarita for entring league with Rodulphus Caesar raised war 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 wars and many other mischiefes of which faire women have been the originall Ovid elegantly delivers in 2 Eleg. thus concluding Vidi ego pro nivea pugnantes conjuge tauros Spectatrix animos ipsa 〈…〉 For a white Heâ—fer I have seen 〈◊〉 â—ight Both gathering rage and couâ—age frâ—â— her sight At the building of Rome Râ—mâ—lus to people the City and get wives for his souldiers caused them to ravish the Sabin women and demosels for which waâ— grew betwixt the two Nations Of which Proper lib. 2. Cur exempla 〈◊〉 Graecum Tu criminis author Nutribus 〈…〉 lactâ— lupae c. What need I from 〈◊〉 Greekâ— example ask Thou 〈◊〉 by 〈…〉 she-woâ—fe nurs'd To rape the 〈◊〉 mâ—d'st thy souldiers task Rape Rome still loveâ— because thou taught'st it fiâ—st Since men the form at best 〈◊〉 â—oon fades and thâ— beauty hath been the came of so much blood-shed Why should women be so proud of that which rated 〈◊〉 the highest is no better then in excellent evill or a wretched wonder that had beginning therefore subject to end created from earth and therefore consequently transâ—â—â—ry but on the contrary since the vertues of the mind â—â—ely acquire after 〈◊〉 and glory conquer oblivion and survive envy and Phâ—nix-like recover fresh youth from forgotten ashes To such I yeeld the first place and so begin with the Amazons Of the Amazons AND first of their Country Cappadocia is a land that breedeth goodly and brave horses it hath on the East side Armenia on the West Asia the lesse on the North Amazonia on the South Mount Taurus by which lieth Sicilia and 〈◊〉 as far as the Cilicke Sea that stretcheth towards the Island of Cyprus The lesse Asia called Asia minor joineth to Cappadocia and is closed in with the great sea for it hath on the North the mouth and sea that is called Euxinus on the West Propontides on the South the Aegyptian sea This lesse Asia conteineth many Provinces and Lands 〈◊〉 the North side Bythinia butting upon the sea against Thracia and is called Phrygia the greater The chiefe City of Bythinia is Nicomedia Galathia takes name of the 〈◊〉 that assisted the King of Bythinia in his wars and therefore had that Province given them to inhabit It was first called Gallograecia as being people mixt of the Gals and Grecians but now they be called Galathians and these are they to whom Saint Paul writ his Epistles Ad Galatas The third part of
Apollo who can Phaon know Take borns and 'bout thy temples wreaths of vine What 's he can say but th' art the god of Wine Phoebus lov'd Daphne Bacchus Gâ—osis bright Yet neither she nor she could Lyricks write The nine Muse-sisters of my verse dispose And what my numbers are the whole world knowes Nor can my Country-man Alcaeus more Then I though he in age stand ranck'd before Nor though his name sound louder can he raise Or from his Lyre or Country greater praise If niggard Nature have deni'd things fit Yet what I want in shape I have in wit My stature's low but know my name is high And bruited through all regions far and nigh I am not fair what therein do I lack Andromeda pleas'd Perseus yet she black The whitest Doves with mingled colors make And the black turtle the Green-bird take If none can be thought worthy of thy love But such as shall thy like in beauty prove Young man despair thou art for ever free None such ere was none such shall ever be When first thou readst my Verses thou didst say I only pleas'd and I was fair that way That I became my phrase and none so well Then did I sing we lovers all must tell And I remember thou 't is still my pride At every note didst on my lips divide Nay even those kâ—sses pleas'd thee wondrous well But most of all when I beneath thee fell My wantonnesse contented thee 'bove measure My nimble motion and words apt for pleasure Then when in confus'd rapture we both lay Fulness of joy depriv'd all use of play Now the Sicilian girls are thy new spoil I 'll be of them and leave the Lesbian soil You Nisean mothers and fair daughters bred In Sicilie let him be banished From forth your earth nor let the many lies The smoothnesse of his false tongue can devise Beguile your simple truth what to you he Speaks uow h' hath spoken a thousand times to me And goddesse Erecina thou that do'st The barbarons rude Sicania honor most Advise thy Poet by thy wit divine And give me counsel 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 yeers are past since my abortive grones Mourn'd and my tears wet my dead Parents bones My needy brother as a second crosse Dotes on a strumpet suffring shame with losse Turn'd Pirate and proves the seas with sail and oar And badly seeks wealth lost as ill before Because my faithfull counsell that course rated My guerdon is that I by him am hated And lest my endlesse torments should find ease My young irregular daughter adds to these The last and great'st cause why I thus miscarry Thou art my Baâ—k still sails with winds contrary 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 mine No precious gems upon my fingers shine My habit 's vile my hair no crisp in wears Nor smâ—ll my locks of sweet Arabian tears Whom should I seek to please since he 's absent That was sole author of mine ornament My soft heart is with easie shafts imprest There 's still new cause to lodge love in my breast Either because the Sisters three had force When I was born to spin my thread so course Or this my studies in the Arts constrain Since 〈◊〉 Thalia doth infuse my brain What wonder if a youth of the first chin Surprize me years which man to man might win â—was afraid lest fair Aurora thou For Cephalus wouldst steal him and I now Am still in fear for surely this had past But that thy first love holds thee still so fast If Phoebus that 〈◊〉 all things thee had seen Phaon in lasting slumbers cast had been Venus had rapt him into heaven by this But that she fear'd Mars would have made him his Thou that no child yet scarce man appears Best age the pride and glory of thy years Return unto my bosome since of thee I beg not love but that thou lov'd would'st be Lo as I write tears from mine eies amain Still drop behold how they my paper stain Thy parting had been gentler in words few Hadst thou but said Sweet Lesbian lasse adue Thou took'st with thee no parting kiss no tears I little dream'd I was so neer my fears Of thine save wrong I nothing have no more Thou let that move thee all my love dost store I gave thee no command nor had that day Vnlesse some such Do not forget me pray By Love that never can forsake that breast By our nine sacred sisters I protest He 's gone when some but who I know not said For a long space both words and tears were staid Mine eies had banisht tears and grief my tongue Through cold my heart unto my ribs was clung My grief retir'd I gan to beat my breast To tear my hair nor blush to walk undrest Like carefull mothers who with loud exclaims Bear their dead children to their funerall flames Charaxus walks by laughing to and fro And from my extasie his pleasures grow And which more shame unto my sorrowes gives Asks why this woman weeps her daughter lives But Shame and Love are two the people stare To see my garments torn and breasts unbare Thou Phaon art my care and my dreams stay Thee fled your dreams that have made night my day I find thee there though absent many a mile But O my dreams last but a little while Oft think I that thy arms my neck infold As likewise these two are with thine like hold I know thy kisses thy tongue-sport I know Which thou wast wont to take and to bestow More pleas'd sometimes words like to truth I spake And to thy form my sences are awake What 's more I shame to tell and blush to write Dreaming all done may perfect our delight No sooner Titan dons his golden beams And with them all things sees I curse my dreams Desarts and Dens I then seek as if they Could profit me â—â—nce guilty of our play Madly like her whom mad Erictho bears I thither â—un my hair 's faln 'bout mine ears I see the Caverâ—s with rough gravel strew'd To me they like Mygdonian Marble shew'd The shades I find that gave us oft our rest And friendly Herbage by our burthenâ— prest Thee master of those Groves and me no place Can shew me therefore they appear most base I knew the very flowers where we have line Our weights have made their upright heads decline Where thou hast falne I threw me in that place But first the gratefull flowers drink from my face The boughes despoil'd a sadnesse seem to bring And on their top most branches no birds sing Only the Daulian bird her discontents Chams out aloud and Itis still taments Iris the bird laments Sapho th' affright Of Love forsaken so we spend the night There is a perfect
Great Agrippa Aristobulus and Herod that was strook by the Angell also on the aforesaid Beronica he begot two daughters Mariamnes and Herodias who was after Philips wife that was Uncle to Aristobulus neverthelesse whilst Philip was yet alive 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 â—lew Hyrcanus the Priest and after Jonathas the brother of Mariamnes who against the law he had caused to be consecrated Priest at the age of seventeen years After that he caused Mariamnes to be put to death with the husband of his sister Saloma pretending that Hyrcanus and Jonathas had adulterated his sister After these murders Herod grew mad for the love of Mariamnes who was held to be the fairest Lady then living and innocently put to death He then took again his wife Dosides and her son Antipater to favour sending Alexander and Aristobulus the sons of Mariamnes to Rome to be instructed in the best literature whom after he caused to be slain And these were the fruits of Adulterous and Incestuous marriages Of women that have come by strange deaths THere are many kinds of deaths I will include them all within two heads Violent and Voluntary the Violent is when either it comes accidentally or when we would live and cannot the Voluntary is when we may live and will not and in this we may include the blessedest or 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 have died 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 vain it were to insist upon his history my businesse is at this time with women Brennus an Englishman and the younger brother to Belinus both sons of Donwallo was by reason of composition with his brother with whom he had been competitor in the Kingdome disposed into France and leading an army of the Gals invaded forrein Countries as Germany Italy sacking Rome and piercing Greece Insomuch that his glory was stretched so far that the French Chroniclers would take him quite from us and called him Rex Gallorum witnesse Plutarch in his seventeenth Parallel This Brennus spoiling and wasting Asia came to besiege Ephesus where falling in love with a wanton of that City he grew so inward with her that upon promise of reward she vowed to deliver the City into his hands the conditions were that he being possessed of the Town should deliver into her â—ate custody as many jewels rings and as much treasure as should countervaile so great a benefit to which he assented The Town delivered and he being victor she attended her reward when Brennus commanded all his souldiers from the first to the last to cast what gold or silver or jewels they had got in the spoil of the City into her lap which amounted to such an infinite masse that with the weight thereof she was suffocated and prest to death This Clitiphon delivers in his first book Rerum Gallicar to answer which Aristides Melesius in Italicis speaks of Tarpeia a Noble Virgin or at least nobly descended and one of the Keepers of the Capitol she in the war betwixt the Sabines and the Romans covenanted with King Tatius then the publick enemy to give him safe accesse into the mountain Tarpeia so he would for a reward but possesse her of all the gold and jewels which his souldiers the Sabins had then about them This she performing they were likewise willing to keep their promise but withall loathing the covetousnesse of the woman threw so much of the spoile and treasure upon her that they buried her in their riches and she expiâ—ed admist a huge Magazin But remarkable above these is the old woman Acco or Acca who having done an extraordinary courtesie for the City of Rome they knew not better how to require her then knowing her a varitious disposition to give her free liberty to go into the common treasury and take thence as much gold as she could carry The wretched woman overjoied with this donative entered the place to make her pack or burden which was either so little she would not beare or so great she could not 〈◊〉 and swetting and striving beneath the burden so expâ—â—ed The like though something a more violent death died the Emperor Galba who in his life time being insatiate oâ— gold as being covetous above all the Emperors before him they poured molten gold down his throat to confirm in him that old Adage Qualis vita finis ita The like was read of the rich Roman Crassus Of such as have died in child-birth THough of these be infinites and daily seen amongst us yet it is nor altogether amisse to speak something though never so little which may have reference to antiquity Volaterranus remembers us 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 us in mind of Junia Claudilla who was daughter to the most noble Marcus Sillanus and wife to the Emperor Caâ—us Caligula who died after the same manner Hâ—ginus in his two hundred threescore and fourth Fable tels this tale In the old time saith he there were no midwives at all and for that cause many women in their modesty rather suffered themselves to perish for want of help then that any man should be seen or known to come about them Above all the Athenians were most curious that no servant or woman should learn the art of Chirurgery There was a damosell of that City that was very industrious in the search of such mysteries whose name was Agnodice but wanting means to attaine unto that necessary skill she caused her head to be shorn and putting on the habit of a young man got her selfe into the service of one Hierophilus a Physitian and by her industry and study having attained to the depth of his skill and the height of her own desires upon a time hearing where a Noble Lady was in child-birth in the middest of her painfull throwes she offered her selfe to her help whom the modest Lady mistaking her Sex would by no perswasion suffer her to come neer her till she was forced to strip her selfe before the women and to give evident signe of her woman-hood After which she had accesse to many proving so fortunate that she grew very famous Insomuch that being envied by the Colledge of the Physitians she was complained on to the Areopagitae or the nobility of the Senate such in whose power it was to censure and determine of all causes and controversies Agnodice thus convented they pleaded against her youth and boldnesse accusing her
and his false fire spends Diana and Phoebus were therefore said to be the children of Latona because in that the ancient Poets would signifie the beginning of the world so when the matter whereof it was made was a meer confused Masse and without shape because all things were obscure and hid that darknesse is signified in Latona and whereas they make Iupiter their Father it imperts as much as if they should fetch Iupiter out of this darknesse called the Sun and the Moon More plainly the Spirit of the Lord said Let there be light of which light Apâ—â—llo and Diana the one by day and the other by night are the greatest by this inferring that the generation of the world began first from Light Ceres THE Goddesse of fruits and grain and daughter to Saturn and Ops a Law-giver to the Sicilians therefore by Virgil called Segifera In Eleusis a City of Artica she had divine worship because she there taught plantation and agriculture and of that place had the name of â—lusina she was honoured in the mount Aetna in Aeona and Catana two Cities of Cicily From whence as Claudian â—â—lates she had the name of Aetnaea Aennaea and Catanensis the like doth Selius c. Lactantius reports that into these her Temples erected in these Cities it was not lawfull â—o any man to enter The manner of the rights among the Philagenses were that no sacrifices should be slain only the fruits of planted trees Honycombs and new shorn wool were laid upon the Altar and sprinkled with sweet oile and were set a fire burnt and offered these Customes were privately and publickly observed yearly as Pausanias left recorded The Argives sacrifice to this goddesse by the name of Ceres Clithonia upon certain set daies in the Summer after this manner Their sacrificial pomp is attended by the chiefe Magistrats of the City after which company the women and children next followed the boies all in white robes with chaplers about their browes of Hyacinthes interwoven and in the lag end of the same troop were driven a certain number of faire and goodly Oxen but bound in the strict bands and drag'd towards the Temple being thither come one of these beasts with his cords loosed was driven in the rest of the people standing without the gates and looking on who no sooner see him entred but shut the gates upon him within the Temple are four old women Priests with hatches and knives by whom he is slain and one of them hath by lot the office to cut off the head of the sacrifice This done the doors are againe set open and the rest one by one forc'd in and so in order by the same women slain and offered In a book of the scituation of Sicily composed by Cl. Marius Aretius a Patritian and of Syracula Intituled Charographia Siciliae In the City Aenna saith he as Strabo consenting with him were born Ceres and her daughter Libera whom some call Proscrpina From which place she was rapt and therefore is this City to her sacred Neer to this City is a river of an infinite depth whose mouth lieth towards the North from whence it is said Dis or Pluto with his chariot made ascent and hurrying the virgin thence to have penetrated the earth againe not far from Syracusa This is that most ancient Ceres whom not Sicilia only but all other nations whatsoever celebrated Most certain it is that she was Queen of the Sicilians and gave them lawes taught them the use of â—illage and husbandry and that her daughter Libera was transported thither by Oâ—cus or Dis King of the Molossians In her Temple part of which not many years since was standing were two statues of Marble one sacred to her another to Proserpina another of brasse beautifull and faire but wondrous ancient At the entrance into the Church in an open place without were two other faire portraictures one of her another of Triptolemus large and of exquisite workmanship In Ceres right hand was the image of victory most curiously forged This History with many other is with much nimble and dextrous with fabulated by Ovid to whose Metamorphosis I refer you In Ceres is figured to us an exhortation to all men to be carefull in the manuring and â—illing of the earth since Ceres is taken for the Earth the treasuress of all riches whatsoever and just is that usury and commendable which ariseth from thence for the fertility that growes that way is begot by the temperature of the weather and the industry of mans labours She is therefore said to wander round about the earth and over the spacious Universe because of the obliquity of the sign-bearing circle and the progress of the Sun beneath that by which Summer is in some parts of the world at all seasons of the year and elsewhere when not here Besides from hence this morality may be collected No man unpunished can despise the gods for miseries are the hand-maids of dishonesty therefore of force a wicked and irreligions man is subject and incident to fall into many distresses and casualties therefore Piety towards heaven Wisdome in managing our affairs and Thriâ—â—◠〈◊〉 in the disposing of our private fortunes me all requisite in an honest religious a parsimonious and well disposed man Proserpina THE daughter of Iupiter and Ceres she was honoured in Sicily of which Province she was called Sicula of whom Seneca thus speaks Vâ—disti Siculae regna Proserpinae Hast thou seen the Kingdomes of Sicilian Proserpine She is likewise called by Lucan Ennaea of the City Enna Eloquar 〈◊〉 terrae sub pondere quae te Contineant Ennaea dapes Shall I 〈…〉 discover on what dainties thou seedest Beneath the huge waight of the Massie earth Many fâ—â—les of Proserpina have been introduc'd for our better instruction by the ancient Poets which is onely to express to us the nature of the seeds and plants for Proserpina by whom is signified the Moon shining to us one halfe of the month and lying the other halfe in the arms of her husband Pluto that iâ— being halfe the year in Heaven and the other in Hell six months beneath 〈…〉 and as many above so is it 〈…〉 whose 〈◊〉 for six months space is by 〈…〉 cold forc'd and 〈◊〉 upword 〈…〉 and branches agâ—ine by the extremity of the Winters upper cold it is compulsively driven back downward into the â—oot beneath the earth for so doth nature 〈◊〉 her power and vertue to all creatures and naturall bâ—dies whatsoever that thâ—â— may observe a mutuality if I may tearm it so in their cooperation After the like manner iâ— the day sorted out for our labours and affairs the â—ight for our rest and repose So likewise in explicating the power of Luna or the Moon some call her the daughter of Hâ—perion or the Sun because she being Corpus diaphanes that is a body christallâ—n like reflective glass transfers the light received from her father upon the earth to us for which cause
causes devised but by the superstition of the people of ancient daies who left nothing unmeditated that might stirre up men to the adoration of the divine powers since in every thing they demonstrated a deity If they were spoken as truths I rather beleeve them to be the meer illusions of devils and spirits themselves then the genii of plants and trees that made such apparitions Of the Goddesses Infernall IT lies with much convenience in our way to make discourse of Pluto the third brother of Satuâ—n of the river Acheron and the properties thereof Of Styx a flood terrible to the gods themselves and by which they use to swear of Cocytus of Charon of Cerberus of the three infernall judges Minos Aeacus and Rhadamant of Tartarus with divers others out of all which many excellent fables pleasant to read and profitable to make both morall and divine use of might be collected but I skip them of purpose since I am injoined to it by promise for but women only I have now to deal with It therefore thus followes Of the Parcae OF Proserpina we have treated already amongst the supernall goddesses above and therefore must necessarily spare her here amongst these below The Paâ—cae or fatall goddesses are three Cloâ—ho Lachesis and Atropos Ceselius Vindex he gives them three other names Nona Decima and Morta and cites this verse of Livius a most ancient Poet Quaendo dies venit quam praefata Morta est When the day commeth that Morta hath presaged Some cals them the daughters of Demorgorgon others as Cicero of Herbus and Noz Hell and Night by another name they are called Fata the Fates as Seneca Multa ad Fata venere suum dum fata timeant As much as to say Many come to their death whilst they feare it They are said moreover to measure the life of man with a spindle and thread which they spin from their distaffe from which they are called Lanificae by the Poets Lanificas nulli tres exorare puellas Contigit observant quem statuere diem The three wool-weaving sisters none can pray To change their time they fix a constant day They are said to be inexorable and by no praiers or intreaties be moved to alter the limit of the fixed time or prorogue the life of man one minute after the date be expired which was proposed at our births therefore Seneca Nulli susso cessare licet Nulli scriptum proferre diem The Poets thus distinguish their offices one begins the life of man and plucks the towe from the distaffe the second makes the thread and continues it the third cuts it off and so ends it The first is Clotho whom Satius cals Ferrea or hard hearted Seneca Grandaeva or extreamly aged Pontanus Improba and Sedula obstinate and yet carefull and diligent The second Lachesis called by Ovid Dura hard by Martiali Invida envious by Claudian Ferrea obdure and rude The third Atropos of whom Statius Hos ferrea neverat annos Atropos Some number Illithia amongst the Parcae Plutarch speaking of the face that is visible within the Orb of the Moon saith some are of opinion that the soules of men are resolved into the Moon as their bodies into the Earth Aliquanto post tempore eas quoque animas in se recepit Luna at quae composuit 1. After some time the Moon receives into her selfe those souls which she had before framed restoring their mindes before lost for they are all in a dream like the soule of Endimion and by coadjuting with the Seminary and vitall powers of the Sun makes them as new soules The Tetra that is the number of Foure supplying the body for she gives nothing after death who receives towards generation The Sun takes nothing from but receives again the mind which he gives the Moon both receives and gives and composeth or makes and divides when she makes she is called Lucina when she divides Diana So of the 〈◊〉 Parcae Atropos is placed about the Sun as the beginning of this new birth Clotho is carried about the Sun to collect and mingle Lachesis the last her office is upon the Earth but these are riddles rather to trouble the brain than profit the understanding Parcae the mother of these three sisters is said to be the daughter of Necessity doubtlesse the Ethick writers held these to be most powerfull goddesses because all things born or that had subsistence were thought to be under their jurisdiction and power and therefore they were imagined by some to be the daughters of Jupiter and Themis because as the Pythagoreans taught Jove gave to every one a body and form suitable to the merits or misdeeds of their former life or else because the divine Wisdome allotted to every soule rewards or punishments as their good deeds or bad deserved the cause of which division the ancient Writers not truly understanding appropriated all to â—ate and the Parcae Furiae or the Eumemides THose whom the Poets call Furiae Virgil terms the daughters of Night and Acheron Therefore Galtreus in his twelfth book de Alexand. cals them by a sit Epithite Noctiginae Ego si dea sum qua nulla potentior inter Noctigenus si me vestram bene nostis alumnam If I a goddesse be of whom Amongst the night born none More potent is it 's well you knew Me for your nurse alone By the same law Mantuan cals them Achecontiginae as born of Acheron they are called by Lucan amongst the infernals Canes dogs Stygiasque Canes in luce superna Destiluana In the upper light I will forsake the Stygian dogs meaning the sisters Amongst mortals they are called Furiae because they stir up and spur on rage and malice in the hearts of men They are called also Eumenides by an Antiphrasis in a contrary sence for Eumenis signifieth Bene volens or well wishing therefore Ovid Eumenides tenuere faces de funere raptas Their temples and foreheads instead of hair are said to crawle with snakes and serpents as witnesseth Catullus Statius Mantuanus in Apollon and others By Virgil they are called Dirae Vltricesque sedent in Limine dirae Lactantius in his sixt book de Vero Cultu writes after this manner There be three affections or passions which precipitate into all violent and facinerous actions therefore Poets call them Furies Ire which covets revenge Covetousnesse which desires riches and Lust whose itching appetite is after all unlawfull pleasure The first of these Furies called Alecto discovered by Virgil where he terms her Luctifica as making strife and contention The second is Tesiphone or Tisiphone the daughter of Acheron whom Ovid thus delineates Nec mora Tesiphone madefactam sanguine sumit Importuna facem stuidoque cruore madentem Induitur pallam tortoque incingitur angue Egreditur que domo luctus comitatur euntem Et pavor terror trepidoque insania vultu Importunate Tesiphone without delay makes speed And snatcheth up a smoaking brand which burning seems to bleed A
〈◊〉 was the favourite or sweet-heart of Anacrcon the Poet of whom 〈◊〉 de Stellis Amatum à vate Batillum Pictum oculis suscumque coma roseumque labellis The Poet of Batillus was enâ—moured With 〈…〉 brown hair and lips like Roses red By the way Sure there was a great dearth of beauty in those daies amongst women when boies and catamites were so doted on by men Bellerophon was not only affected by Sthenoboea the wife of Pretus King of the Argives but doted on by Vâ—nus Of Castor and Pollux the two faire Tindarides Ovid. lâ—b 6 thus writes At gemini nondum Coelestia sidera fratres Ambo conspiâ—uâ— nive caendidioribus ambo Vectabantur equis The two twin brothers not as yet accounted ' Mongst the coelestiall stars conspicuous both Vpon two steeds whiter then snow were mounted c. The young boy Cestâ—us Martial thus commends Quanta 〈◊〉 est probitas c. How great â—hy honesty thy same as rare O sweet child Cestus thou that mai'st compare With Theâ—eus son did bright Diana see Thee naked once enamoured she would be And ' tice thee to some pleasant rivers brim There strip her selfe and teach thee how to swim Demoâ—les an Athenian youth was of that pulchritude that he was called by all men Pulâ—her Dâ—mocles and that which seldome meets with beauty of that rare temperance that when King Demetrius plucked him to have made him a prostitute to his unlawfull and beastly lusts to shun his embraces he leaped into a caldron of seething hot liquor and there drowned himselfe Plutarch in Demetrio Dâ—adumenuâ— the cup-bearer to Augustus was of that admirable feature that in the contention which was made Elis he carried the palm both from men and women Volaterran For no other causâ— was Gâ—â—ymede said to fill Nectar to Jupiter then for his elegâ—ncy oâ— form Gâ—letes was a youth of that excellent feature and so endeared to Pâ—olomaeus that when divers malefactors and for great crimes were led to execution only at his entreaty he spared their lives Hypoclides the son of Thysander as Herodotus relates was excellent above all the Athenians for wealth and beauty Of Hyas the son of Atlas and Aethra Ovid. 5. de Fast Nondum stabat Atlas humeros oneratus Olympo Cum satus est forma conspiciendus Hias Olympas weight did not as yet Great Atlas back adorn When as the lovely Hyas of Conspicuous shape was born â—ylas the son of Hyadamus was not only endeared to to Hercules but doted on by the nymphs called Driades Iulus the son of Aeneas and Creâ—sa was taken for Cupid the son of Venus Juvenâ—us was the minion of Catullus as Lygurinus was to Hâ—â—ace so likewise Lycus of whom he thus speaks Et Lycum nigris oculis nigroque Crine decorum Lycus rare Both for his black eies and his black sleek hair Some thing more freely he speaks of the Pulchâ—â—tude of Nearchus in Carmâ— and his Odes O Nireus the son of Caropus and Alaga Homer speaks at large as Horace likewise in Carm. and 〈◊〉 Tibullus commends his Marathis Maximinus that his head being m'ngled and bloody yet notwithstanding in death it looked admirable Marcellus the son of 〈◊〉 and Lyriope was so faire that the numphs were surprised with his beauty Eâ—dimion was beloved of the Moon Val Flaccus lib. 8. â—â—tmius Aestiva residâ—t venator in umbra Dâ—gnus amore Dâ—ae The 〈…〉 in the Summer shade Worthy the love of that 〈◊〉 maid In 〈◊〉 was the majestic 〈◊〉 beauty that the wife of King Dâ—â—rius saluted him for Alexander for his exquisite form he was especially beloved of Alexander Virgil commends the shape of 〈◊〉 the son of Nyâ—us So Nysus King of the Megarenses was said to have hairs of gold they were of such splendour Sâ—aâ—ius commends 〈…〉 the son of 〈◊〉 and Atalanta or as some write of Mars and 〈◊〉 Caelius Ovid and others celebrate Phaon the beloved of Sappâ—o the Poetesse for the fairest of the world 〈…〉 who was the familiar of Socrates and Plato was for exquisite shape compelled to be prostituted by the â—aud his Master Of Pyramus Ovid thus speaks Metamorph. lib. 4. Pyramus Thisbe Juvenum Pulcherrimus alter Young Pyranius and Thisbe he Of all the young men fairest And she of all the Eastern world Of lovely girls the rarest c. Spurinae was a youth of such an alluring beauty that when he could neither reserve himselfe from suit of men or importunities of women he deformed his own beauty with scratches and wounds to preserve his own chastity Valer Max. de Verecundis Magnes Smyrnaeus was the most beautifull of his age and so acceptable to Gyges King of Lydia that when his paâ—ents cut off his delicate and faire haire somewhat to takâ— off the Kings affection the King was so incensed that for that cause alone he made warre against the Magnesians Pausan apud Volater The Poet Musaeus celebrates the rare form of Leander a youth of Abidos and beloved of Hero As Virgil doth the like of Lausus the son of 〈…〉 lib. 7 Herodotus speaking of 〈◊〉 saith that he had in his army sixty eighty 〈◊〉 of men yet amongst them all he was the beautifullest of face and tallest of 〈◊〉 I could reckon up others as Pelops Idas Jason 〈…〉 Hymene the least of them a Prince the 〈…〉 or the dearly beloved of some Queen or goddesse This is only to put you in mind O 〈◊〉 That though you have engrossed a great portionâ— beauty yeâ— you are not possest of all since not only men but divers other creatures share with you neither have 〈◊〉 suced these to derâ—gate any thing from your worths only to abate some of that ambition or selfe-love which is commonly attendant upon beauty One thing for your grace I have read in the Spanish Chronicle of an exquisiâ—e 〈…〉 like I did never of any excellent man Queen Iâ—abel the wife of Henry sirnamed the Humble being 〈◊〉 her selfe in her window against which the Sun shined somewhat 〈◊〉 it is credibly reported that the beams of the Sun set her curled locks on fire some held it as a prodigie others alluded it to her miraculous beauty some thoughâ— 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 oâ—les and sweet unguents with which the Queens and great Ladies use to dresse their haire howsoever if their Chronicle speak truth most certain it is that her lust made greater combustion in the land then the Sun had power to commit upon her hair I have one thing more to instance to your grace and so I will conclude my discourse An Embassador being to be enterteined in the Court of Queen Elizabeth where the greatest state was still observed he first passed through a lane of the guard in their rich coats next through the Gentlemen Pensioners and so through all the greater Officers the Lords Earls and Councel The Queen sat then in state
write them all at large they cannot exceed that piety of which I have read in women Suetonius and Cicero in an Oration pro Caelio speaking of Claudia one of the Vestall Virgins thus report of her She seeing her father in his triumphant Chariot riding through the streets of Rome and by the Tribunes of the people who envied his glory pluckt and haled from his seat she with a wondrous dexterity and a masculine audacity freed him from the hands of their Tribunes and their Lictors and maugre all their opposition lifted him up into his chariot nor sook him till she saw him in all magnificent pomp received into the Capitol insomuch that it was questioned amongst the Romans which of them merited the greater triumph he for his vertue and valour in the Forum or she for her zeal and piety in the Temple of Vesta nor can it yet be decided which may claim a just prioritie the Father for his victory or the Daughter for her goodnesse Plin. lib. 7. cap. 36. and Solinus speak of another Roman Lady of a noble Family who when her mother was condemned at the judgement-seat by the Praetor and delivered up to one of the Triumviri to be committed to strait prison and there for her offence to be privately executed But the keeper of the Goale commiserating the Matron so sentenced either because he pitied her gravity or suspected her innocence did not cause her to be instantly strangled according to the rigour of her sentence At the importunacy of the daughter he gave her leave to visit and comfort her mother but narrowly searcht before her entrance into the prison lust she should carry with her any food or sustenance to her relifefe rather desiring she should perish by famine and die that way then himselfe to have any violent hand in her execution The daughter having daily accesse to the mother who now had past over more daies then the keeper thought was possibly by nature and wondring in himself how she should draw her thred of life out to that length without any means to maintein it he casting a more curious eie upon the young woman and watching her might perceive how she first drew out one breast and after another with her own milk relieving her mothers famine At the novelty of so strange and rare a spectacle being amazed he carried newes to the Triumvir he to the Praetor the Praetor related it to the Consuls they brought it before the Senat who to recompence what was good in the daughter pardoned all that was before thought ill in the mother For what will not love devise or whither true zeal not penetrate What more unheard or unexpected thing could be apprehended then for a mother to be fed from the breast of her daughter Who would not imagine this to be against nature but that we see by proof true naturall piety transcends all bounds and limits The like of this we may read â—f in Pliry of another young married woman who when her father Cimon was afflicted with the same sentence and subject to the like durance prolonged his life from her breasts for which she deserves equally to be memorised Our parents in no danger or necessities are to be by us abandoned and that by example of Aeneas in whose person Virgil thus speaks as to his father Anchises Aeneid 2. Eia agâ— chare pater cervici imponere nostrae Ipse suâ—â—bo numeris nec me laboriste gravabit c Come my dear father and get up for see No burthen to my shoulders you can be No weight at all and hap what can betide One danger or one safety we 'll abide Sabellâ—â— lib. 3. cap. 6. remembers us of Rusticana a noble Matron of Rome and the daughter of Synnarchus who with his brother Boetius the famous Philosoher being put to death by Theodoricirs King of the Gotâ—s She after the Tirants miserable end was the cause that all his Statues in Rome were demolished and ruined purposing utterly if it were possible to extirp his memory that was the imhumane 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 approved the deed with all constancy whose not le magnanimity and resolution proved more available to her safety then any timorous evasion could have done for he not only dismissed her unpunished but highly applauded and commended Fulgos Sabellicus and Egnâ—tius writing of Alboinuâ— King of the Longobards who at his first entrance into Italy having subdued and slain Tâ—rismundus whom some call Cunimundus son to Cunimundus King of the Gepidanes and after taken his daughter Rosamunda to wife the History faith he made a bole of her fathers scul in which one night having drunk somewhat lavishly he caused it to be filled with wine and sent to Rosamunda then in her chamber with this message Commend me to thy Queen aâ—d â—ay I command her to drink with her father 〈…〉 though she knew him to be slain by the 〈◊〉 gobards receiving his death by a common casualtie and chance of 〈◊〉 by this assuring her selfe that he â—ell by the â—and oâ— her husband betwixt 〈…〉 and conjugall love being for a time distracted the bond of her affectiâ—n towards her father prevailed above those nuptial setters in which she was tied to her Lord insomuch that to revenge the death of the one she resolved to take away the life of the other to bring which about she devised this project she had observed one Hemegâ—ldus a noble man amongst the Lambard to be surprized with the love of one of her waiting Gentlewomen with whom she dealt so far that when her maid had promised to give this Hemegildus meeting in a private and dark chamber she her selfe supplied the place of her servant after 〈◊〉 congression she caused lights to be brought in that he â—iâ—ht know with whom he had had carnall company and what certein prejudice he had the 〈◊〉 incurred protesting 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉 he would join with her in the dear 〈…〉 she would accuse him of rape and outrage The Lambâ—â—d to prevent his own disaster undertook his soveraign â—eath which was accordingly betwixt them performed The murder done they sled together to Ravenna she preferring the revenge of a slaughtered father before the life of a husband the title of a Queen State Sovereignty oâ— any other worldly dignity whatsoever Something is not amisse to be spoken in this place concerning the love of mothers to their children which as Plutarch in his 〈…〉 saith was excellently observed in 〈…〉 Prince of the Athenians who was wont to say That he â—new no reason but that this young son whom his mother most datâ—ngly affected should have more power and command thâ—n any one man in Greece whatsoever and being demanded the reason he thus answered Athens saith he commands all Greece I Themistocles have predominance ever Athens my wife over swaies me and my
hand against him he retired himselfe into his Country and laying aside his victorious arms which won him fame and honour abroad he abandoned himselfe to ease and the private pleasures of his fathers house and now wanting other imploiment as idlenesse is the greatest corrupter of vertue he began to entertein such unusuall flames and unaccustomed cogitations as before he had no time to feel or leisure to think on for now he cast his incestuous eie upon his sister His passions much troubled him at the first and all possible means he used to shake them off but in vain he lived in the same house with her they dieted at one table had liberty of unsuspected conference and he having nothing else to do had only leisure to meditate on that which was fearful to apprehend but horrible to enterprize To this purpose Ovid with great elegancy in remed Amor. lib. 1. speaking of Aegistus who in the absence of Agamemnon adulterated his Queen Clitemnestra thus writes Queritur Aegistus quare sit factus adulter In promptu causa est desidiosâ—â— erat c. Doth any man demand the reason why Aegistus an adulterer was Lo I Can tell Because that he was idle when Others at Troy were sighting and their men Led stoutly on 〈◊〉 to which place were accited The Grecian Heroes with a force united He no imploiment had There was no war In Argos where he lived from Troy so far No strife in Law to which being left behind He carefully might have imploi'd his mind That which lay plain before him the man prov'd And lest he should do nothing therefore lov'd As Ovid of Aegistus so may I say of Leucippus whom rest and want of action in a stirring brain and body wrought this distemperature Ashamed he was to court his sister first because he knew her modest a second impediment was she was elsewhere disposed and contracted to a Gentleman of a Noble family besides she was his sister to whom he wishâ— all good and then to corrupt her honor he could devise for her no greater ill he considered that to perswade her to her own undoing would shew ill in a stranger but worse in a brother In these distractions what should he do or what course take the thing he apprehended was preposterous and the means to compass it was prodigious for he came to his mother told her his disease and besought her of remedy his words as they were uttered with tear so they were heard with trembling for they foavered her all over Being in to the knees he cared not now to wade up to the chin and proceeded That if she would not be the means for him to compasse his sister notwithstanding all obstacles whatsoever he would by speedy and sudden death rid himselfe out of all his miseries desiring her speedy answer or with his naked poniard in his hand he was as ready for execution as she to deny her assistance I leave to any mothers consideration but to imagine with what strange ambiguities his words perplexed her what convulsions it bred in her bosome even to the very stretching of her heart strings but as she knew his courage to dare so she feared his resolution to act therefore more like a tender hearted mother then a vertuous minded matron rather desiring to have wicked children then none at all she promised him hope and assured him help and after some perswasive words of comfort left him indifferently satisfied What language the mother used to the daughter to invite her to the pollution of her body and destruction of her soul is not in me to conceive I only come to the point by the mothers mediation the brother is brought to the bed of his sister she is vitiâ—ted and his appetite glutted yet not so but that they continued their private meetings insomuch that custome bred impudence and suspition certain proof of their incestuous consociety At length it comes to the ear of him that had contracted her with attestation of the truth thereof he though he feared the greatnesse of Leucippus his known valour and popular favour yet his spirit could not brook so unspeakable an injury he acquaints this novell to his father and certain noble friends of his amongst whom it was concluded by all jointly to inform Xanthius of his daughters inchastity but for their own safety knowing the potency of Leucippus to conceal the name of the adulterer They repair to him and inform him of the businesse intreating his secrecy till he be himself eie-witness of his daughters dishonor The father at this newes is inraged but arms himselfe with patience much longing to know that libidinous wretch who had dishonored his family The incestuous meeting was watcht and discovered and word brought to Xanthius that now was the time to apprehend them he cals for lights and attended with her accusers purposes to invade the chamber great noise is made she affrighted rises and before they came to the door 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 up and with his sword in his hand hearing her last dying shreek prepares himself for her rescue he is incountred by his father whom in the distraction of the sudden affright he unadvisedly 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 slain betwixt the horridness of the sight and apprehension of her own guilt fell down suddenly and expired And these are the lamentable effects of Incest the father to kill his own daughter the son his father and the mother the cause of all ill to die suddenly without the least thought of repentance These things so infortunately hapning Leucippus caused their bodies to be nobly interred when forsaking his fathers house in Thessaly he made an expedition into Creet but being repulst from thence by the inhabitants he made for Ephesia where he took perforce a City in the province of Cretinaea and after inhabited it It is said that Leucophria the daughter of Mandrolita grew enamored of him and betraied the City into his hands who after married her and was ruler thereof This history is remembred by Parthenius de Amatoriis cap. 5. Of incest betwixt the father and the daughter Ovid. lib. Metam speaks of whose verses with what modesty I can I will give you the English of and so end with this argument Accipit obscoeno genitor sua viscera lecto Virgeneosque metus levat 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 fear But be of bolder courage and take chear Full of her fathers sins loath to betray The horrid act by night she steals away Fraught that came thither empty for her womb Is now of impious incest made
was compelled by his master to prostitute his own body to unnaturall lusts for bruitish and unthriving gain yet after proved a severe father for finding his daughter to have corrupted her virginall chastity he slew her with his own hand How sacred then may we imagine and conceive purity and temperance was held in Rome when such as had professed base prostitution in their youth became judges and punishers thereof even upon their own children in their age Val. Max. lib. 6. cap. 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 camp at Algidus that he suborned a servant of his to seize her and 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 judge The father being certified of these proceedings by Icilius a hopefull young Gentleman before contracted unto her leaving his charge abroad repairs to the City and appearing before the judgement seat sees his own lawfull daughter taken both from himselfe and betrothed husband and conferred upon another as his slave and bondwoman The judgement being past he desires leave to speak with his daughter apart it was granted him by the Court who slew her with his own hand then taking up her body and lifting it upon his shoulders posted with that lamentable burden to the camp and incited the soulders to revenge Livy Volater lib. 14. c. 2. Antropol Quintus Fabius Servilianus having his daughters chastity in suspition first delivered her to death and after punished himselfe with voluntary banishment The punishment of these inchastities is by the Poets to the life illustrated in the fable of Titius the son of Terra who intending to stuprate Laâ—ona was by Apollo slain with an arrow and being thrust down into hell and chained to a rock his Liver and Heart is perpetually tyred on by a ravenous Vulture who still renewes his inceaseable torments Virgil lib. Aeneid 6. under the person of Titius would pourtray unto us the unquiet conscience which though sometimes it may be at a seeming peace yet the torment by being still renewed daily increaseth and gnawes the heartstrings of all such persons as to themselves are guilty Of Witches and the Punishment due to to them VIncentius cites this following History from Guillerimus in Specul Histor lib. 26. cap. 26. which also Johannes Wyerius Ranulphus and others commemorates an English woman that dwelt at a Town called Barkley in England being a Wircht yet not being much suspected lived in indifferent good opinion amongst her neighbors and being feasting upon a time abroad and wondrous pleasant in company she had a tame crow which she had brought up that would be familiar with her and sit upon her shoulder and prate to her in the best language it could she at this feast the table being ready to be drawn sported with her which spake to her more plainly then it used some words which she better then the rest of the company understood at which suddenly her knife dropped out of her hand her colour changed the blood forsook her cheeks and she looked pale ready to sink down and fetching some inward suspites and grones she at length broke forth into this language Woe is me my plow is now entred into the last furrow for this day I shall hear of some great losse which I must forcibly suffer The rest wondring at her sudden change from mirth to passion next at her alteration of look and lastly at her mystical language when her words were scarce ended but a messenger rushed hastily into the room and told her that her eldest son with all the whole family at home were sound suddenly dead which she no sooner heard but overcome with sorrow she fainted and being recovered and conducted to her own house she took her bed and presently caused the only two children she had living to be sent for the one a Monk the other a Nun who presently came to visit her and know her pleasure to whom with a pensive and distracted heart the tears running from her eies she thus spake Alas my children be hold me your mother and commiserate my wretchâ—◠〈…〉 distressed estate whose fate hath been so 〈…〉 disastrous that I have hitherto been a wicked 〈◊〉 diabolicall Witchcraft having been a mistresse of that 〈…〉 and a great perswader to those abominations now 〈◊〉 refuge I have to flie to is your religions zeal and 〈…〉 this despair for now is the time that the Devils will exact their due Those that perswaded me to this mischiefe are ready to demand their Covenant Therefore by a motherâ— love I charge you and by your filiall duty I conjure you since the Sentence of my Souls perdition is irrevocable that you will use your best endeavour and industry for the preservation of my Body This therefore I enjoin you instead of a winding sheet 〈◊〉 my body in the skin of a Hart or Bucks Leather then put me in a Coffin of Stone which cover with Lead and after bind it with Hoops 〈◊〉 Bars of Iron to which fasten three strong Chains If my Body thus coffin'd lye three daies quiet bury me the fourth day though I fear the Earth for my manifold Blasphemies will scarce give enterteinment to my Body For the first two nights together let there be fifty Psalms sung for me and as many Masses for so many daies which said she gave up her last breath She dead the brother and sister were careful to perform the mothers last Will and did all things accordingly The first two nights when the Quires of Church-men sung Psalms about the Body the Devils with much ease broke open the Church doors which were bâ—lted barr'd lockt and propt and broke two of the Chains by which the Coffin was fastned but the third remained stedfast The third night â—bout the time when the Cock begins to crow the foundation of the Temple seemed to shake with the noise of the Devils who â—lamored at the door one of the rest taller in stature and more terrible in countenance then his fellowes knocked with more violence then those which attended him till he had broken the doors to shivers when stalking to the Coffin he called the woman by her name aloud and bad her arise and follow him to whom the dead body answered I cannot for these Chains To whom he answered Those shall be loosed to thy mischiefe when tearing them asunder as they had been links made of rushes he snâ—tched up the Coffin and carried it to the Church door where stood ready a black Sumpter-horse loudly neighing whose hoofs were divided like Eagles tallons upon which he laid the body burried it away with seeming joy whilst all the Quiâ—â—sters looked on and so vanished Her shriâ—ks and 〈◊〉 were heard four miles off Let this one suffice for many I come now to temporall punishments The
rather a corrupter of their chastities then any way a curer of their infirmities blaming the matrons as counterfeiting weaknesse purposely to have the company and familiarity of a loose and intemperate young man They prest their accusations so far that the Judges were ready to proceed to sentence against her when she opening her brest before the Senate gave manifest testimony that she was no other then a woman at this the Physitians being the more incens'd made the fact the more heinous 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 ready again to go against her the noblest matrons of the City assembled themselves before the Senate and plainly told them they were rather enemies then husbands who went about to punish her that of all their Sex had bin the most studious for their generall health and safety Their importancy so far prevailed after the circumstances were truly considered that the first decree was quite abrogated and free liberty granted to women to employ themselves in those necessary offices without the presence of men So that Athens was the first City of Greece that freely admitted or Midwives by the means of this damosell Agnodice Of women that suffered martyrdome ANd of these in briefe Corona was a religious woman who suffered martyrdome under the Tyranny of Antonius the Emperor Her death was after this manner she was tied by the arms and legs betwixt two trees whose stiffe branches were forced and bowed down for the purpose the bowes being shackned and let loose her body was tossed into the aire and so cruelly dissevered limb from limb Anatholia a virgin by the severe command of Faustinianus the President was transpierc'd with a sword Felicula as Plutarch witnesseth when by no perswasion or threats promises or torments she could be forced to renounce the Christian Faith by the command of Flaccus Comes she was commanded to be shut up in a jakes and there stilled to death Murita had likewise the honour of a Martyr who being banished by Elphedorus a certaine Arrian opprest with cold and hunger most miserably died Hyrene the virgin because she would not abjure her faith and religion was by Sisimmius shot through with an arrow The like death suffered the martyr Christiana under Julian the Apostata Paulina a Roman Virgin and daughter to the Prefect Artemius was with her mother Candida stoned to death by the command of the Tyrant Dioclesian Agatho virgo Catanensis was strangled in Prison by the command of the Consul Quintianus Theodora a virgin of Antioch was beheaded by the tyranny of Dioclesian Julia Countesse of Eulalia suffered the same death under the President Diaconus Margarita a maid and a martyr had her head cut off by Olibrius Zoe the wife of Nicostratus was nailed unto a crosse and so ended her life partly with the torture of the gibbet and partly with the smoke that the executioner made at the foot of the gallowes suffocated Julia Carthagensis because she would not bow to idols and adore the falâ—e heathen gods but was a constant professor of the 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 Country she suffered for the Faith by fire Alexandria was the wife of Dacianus the President who being converted to the Faith by blessed Saint George was therefore by the bloody murderer her husbands own hands strangled Maximianus the son of Dioclesian with his own hands likewise slew his naturall sister Artemia because that forsaking all Idolatry she proved a convert to the true Christian Faith Flavia Domicilla a noble Lady of Rome was banished into the Isle Ponâ—ia in the fifteenth yeare of the raign 〈◊〉 Dâ—nâ—tian for no other reason but that she constantly professed her selfe to be a Christian These two following suffered persecution under Antonius Verus in France Blondina who is said to weary her tormentors patiently enduring more then they could malitiously inflict insomuch that before she fainted they confessed themselves overcome she ready still to suffer and beare when they had not blowes to give for as oft as she spake these words I am a Christian neither have I committed any evill she seemed to the spectators of her martyrdome to be so refreshed and comforted from above that she felt no paine or anguish in the middest of her torture and in that patience she continued without alternation even to the last gaâ—â— Biâ—â—is one that before through her womanish weaknesse had faiâ—â—ed for fear oâ— torments comming to see her with others exâ—â—uted was so strengthened to behold their constancy that as it were awakened out of her former dream and comparing those temporall punishments which lasted but a moment with the eternall pains of hell fire gave up her selfe freely for the Gospels sake Dionysius in an Epistle to Fabius Bishop of Antioch reckons up those that suffered martyrdome under Decius the Emperor Quinta a faithfull woman was by the Infidels brought into a Temple of their Idols unto which because she denied divine adoration they bound her hand and foot and most inhumanely dragged her along the streets upon the sharp stones but when that could not prevaile with her they beat her head and sides and bruised them against Milâ—stones that done she was pitiously scourged and lastly bloodily executed The same Lâ—ctors laid hands on Apollonia a Virgin but something grounded in years and because she spake boldly in the defence of her Faith first with barbarous cruelty they beat out her teeth then without the City they prepared a huge pile threatning to burn her instantly unlesse she would renounce her Christianity but she seeming to pause a little as if she meant better to consider of the matter when they least suspected leapt suddenly into the fire and was there consumed to ashes Ammomarion a holy Virgin after the suffering of many torments under the same Tyrant gave up her life an acceptable sacrifice for the Gospell Mercuria a vertuous woman and one Dionysia a fruitfull and child-bearing martyr after they were questioned about their faith and in all arguments boldly opposed the Judges were first rackt and tortured till they were past all sence of feeling that done they caused them to be executed Theodosia was a virgin of Tyrus about the age of eighteen years she comming to visit certaine prisoners at Cesarea who were called to the bar and because they stood stedfastly in the defence of the Gospell prepared themselves to hear the most welcome sentence of death pronounced against them which Theodosia seeing gently saluted them comforted them and perswaded them to continue in their constancy withall humbly desired them to remember her devoutly in their praiers which she knew would be acceptable to him for whose love they so freely offered up their lives The Officers this hearing dragged
reports iâ— thus Tiberius walking with Thraâ—illus and privately intending to cast him from the rock without any appearance of anâ—er on the sudden he grew wondrous melancholy and sad upon which Tiberius demanding the cause Thrasillus answered because I find there is now a prâ—sent mischiefe intended against me upon which words the purpose of Tiberius was altered and the otheâ—s prescience by him much commended Even Tiberius himself was studious and expert in Astrology Astronomy and other mystical and hidden Arts insomuch that he caused many noble Gentlemen of Rome to be innocently put to death for no other reason then by calculating upon their nativity he presupposed them dangerous to the State he observed the carriage and conditions of all men and whosoever excell'd others in vertue or entred into the least popular love him he cut off It is said that meeting with Galba upon his marriage day he cast a stedfast look upon him and withall uttered these words Et tu aliquando Principetum degustâ—his i. And thou also shalt in time attain unto the Principality The Emperor Hadrianus was not only industrious in the attaining to the height of perfection in the knowledge of all other general learning but also in the Mathematicks insomuch that Marius Maxim affirms of him That he assuredly knew all things that were spoken of or by him he writ down every morning with his own hand the chances and successions that should follow the same day and thus he continued to the hour of his death He was often heard to say of Verus whom he had adopted Oâ—â—endent terris hunc tantum fata nec ultra Esse sinent c. The fates will to the earth but shew him then Eâ—e fully seen snatch him away agen Volaterran Anturo lib. 23. saith That he continued the writing down daily of those predictions even to the last month of the year in which he died and then gave over speaking openly that within the compasse of that month he should be gathered to his fathers Fulgos lib. 8. cap. 11. Severus Pertinax having buried his wife Martia made choice of a second called Julia born of obscure parents for no other reason but that by the inspiration into those Stars that were predominant at her birth he found that she was born to participate of Imperial honours Polaterran lib 23. An Astrologian in the Court of Frederick the second â—mperor with great ceremony and diliâ—â—nce observed Rodulphus Earl of Hausburch a plain Gentleman of meâ—n fortunes and lesser hopes and one whom all the other Courtiers despised and still he was mocked when he had neglected others of great place and office to be only obsequious to him this being told to the Emperor he commanded the Artist before him demanding the reason of his so doing to whom he answered Because O Frederick in this Rodulphus I see a succeeding Emperor who when thy issue shall fail must repair the â—ignity of the Caesars and his noble memorable acts â—il all Christendome with condign praises neither was this presage frivolous or vainly spoken for in the year of our redemption 1273 in the Calends of October this Rodulphus was by the princes of Germany confirmed in the Imperiall dignity and crowned at Frankford Caspinianus in Caesaribus Marullus speaks of one Byliotus an Astronomer who died with eating of Mushroms or such as we call Toad-stools his words be these Dum cavet Astrologus prituris is sidera amicis Dum sibi Boletos non cavet ipse perit Whilst to foresee his friends mishhaps His skil the Artist tri'd His own sad fate he could not find But eating Mushromes di'd Rare effects of this Art were shewed in Guido Bonatus forâ— liviensis who lived under Martin the fourth who sent to Guido Earl of Mountferrat that if such a day and at such an hour he would issue out of the City and by stratagem invade his enemies posterity should remember him in that honorable victory in which he should give them a strange defeat and assuredly overcome and himself receive a dangerous wound in the thigh The Earl at the day appointed issued from the City and assaulted them providing himself of all things necessary about him for a wound He wins the day followed the victory was hurt in the same place and after healed Fulgos lib 8 cap. 11. Egnat lib. 8. cap. 11. Paulus tertius Pope Farnesius was miraculously skilful in Astrology He sent to his son Peter Aloysius who at that time with great cruelty usurped in the Dukedome of Parma and Placentia and warned him to beware and take heed of his own safety the 10 day of September in the year of Grace 1547. for that day was malignant to his life and opposite to his good above all others The father as my Author saith had power to forewarn his son but the son had not grace to prevent the danger for the same day predicted he was slain in his own Castle by Augustinus Landus and Jacobus Scotus two Earls of Placentia who pretended private conference with him Being dead he was delivered to the long afflicted people who first hanged him up by the privy parts and after without all humane pity tore him limb from limb to satisfie their malicious vengeance Sleidanus lib. 19. Comment I fear I have staied too long amongst the Stars and conferred so much amongst those men that some may fear I have forgot the Women but it is otherwise for I now proceed with them And first Of Women Orators that have pleaded their own Causes or others Strange and admirable is the efficacy and force of Eloquence It is writ of the Poet Tyrtaeus That when the Lacedemonians had been in three sundry battels defeated and were in despair for ever reobtaining their pristine honours and dignities in this lowest of their dejectednesse he with his excellently eloquent Verses so kindled and awaked their dul and drowsie courages that they the fourth time opposed the Messenians their enemies and wearing about them the names of their noble ancestors whose brave exploits he in his Poems had celebrated they re-assumed their former forces and courages with such an addition and encrease of fortitude that they after grew unresistable Answerable to the facundity and eloquence of the Poet Tyrtaeus was that of Amesia a modest Roman Lady who being of a great crime accused and ready to incur the sentence of the Praetor she in a great confluence stept up among the people and without any advocate pleaded his own cause so effectually and strongly that by the publique Suffrage she was freed and acquit from all aspersions whatsoever Which she did with such a manly yet modest constancy that from that time forward she was called Androgine Val. Max. lib. 8. cap. 3. Equall to her was Hortensia the daughter of Q. Hortensius she when the Roman Matrons had a grievouâ— fine put upon them by the Tribunes and when all the Tribunes Lawyers and Orators were afraid to take upon them the patronage of
their Cause this discreet Lady in person pleaded before the Triumvirate in the behalf of the women which she did boldly and happily for as one hereditary to her fathers eloquence she prevailed so far that the greatest part of the mulct imposed upon 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 controversies stil pleaded her own Cases before the Praetor Not that she wanted the help of an Advocate but rather to expresse her own impudence whose common railing and loquacity before the Bench grew to that scandall that it almost stretcht to the injurie of the whole Sex insomuch that if any woman were justly taxed with boldnesse or irregularity she in the way of a Proverb was branded with the name of Affrania Her spleen extended even to Caius Caesar Tertius as likewise to M. Servillus the Consul My Author leaves her with this Character That it is much better to enquire when such a Monster died then curiously to be inquisitive when or of whom she was â—orn 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 wil to a noble Gentleman called Valertanuâ— when they were left together in the Bride-chamber she with her strong reasons and prompt arguments discoursed and disputed with him in the patronage and defence of her Virginity proving unto him from the Scriptures how justly vowed Chastity is more acceptable in the eies of the great Maker then Marriage insomuch that notwithstanding his heat of youth meeting with a tempting provoking beauty the convenience of opportunity time and place with the lawfulnesse of the act establisht by the Ceremonies of the Church yet he at her intercession not only absteined from that time to offer her any force or violence but ever after betwixt themselves vowing lasting Virginity 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 gods so that having convinced him with undeniable Propositions he turned a zealous convertite to the true Christian Faith Catherina Alexandria under the Tyranny of Maxâ—ntius argued with all the best and cunningest Sophists of those daies stoutâ—y and constantly maintâ—ining the Faith of the Gospel and sillogistically refuting all their schismatical Opinions causing many of them to deliver up their names to the â—â—cere profession of Christianity In her appeared how the wisdome of the world gave place and submitted to the Divine knowledge insomuch that notwithstanding all the 〈◊〉 cunning and sophistical dilemma's in which they were elaborately practised they were forced to yield and submit to the authority of a plain Virgins tongue her wit and reason being illuminated with Divine knowledge from above Marul lib. 5. cap. 6. Guido Bit. in his Catalogue of Philosophers reports Diodorâ—â— Socratiâ—â—â— to have had five daughters all Disputants and skilful in Logick Hypparchia the sister oâ— Megocles and wife to Câ—ates Cynicus she with one sophism put to silence Theodorus surnamed 〈◊〉 Quod faciens Theodorus non dicerâ—tur injuste facere 〈…〉 Hyppâ—rchia non diceretur injuste facere i. That which Theoâ—orus doing he is not said to do unjustly It Hypparchia do the same she is not said to do unjustly To which when he granted she added this But Theodorus beating himselfe is not said to do unjustly Ergâ— If Hyppaâ—chia beat Theodorus she cannot do unjustly To this Theodorus made no answer but in snatching up his cloak and leaving the place he â—aunted her in a Greek Iambick verse which was to this purpose Why she being a woman would trouble her selfe with such Disciplines as are solely appertaining unto men thus saying Radios apud Tâ—las retiqui femina To whom she replied Thinkest thou I have been ill councelled I that time which I might have past upon the Loom or Distâ—ff I have spentâ—n the attaining of the liberall Arts and Discâ—plinâ—s Of Debora of the Tribe of Ephraim her wisedome and her Prophesies in which she excelled the holy Scriptures gives ample testimony as likewise of Mary the sister of Moses Anna the Prophetess and others I proceed to such as have been studied and practised as well in Theology as Philosophy Of Women studious in Divinity FAbâ—ola a Roman matron was very laborious in the reading and understanding of the sacred Scriptures she was frequent in the old Prophets the Gospels and the Psâ—lms of David which she had almost ad unguem and by roat her continuall reading practised her in a more perfect knowledge she was of that reverend respect amongst the learned that Saint Jerome vouchsafed to dedicate a book unto her intituled de Vesta Sacer dotalâ— Marcella Romana 〈…〉 industry in the Scriptures in which she was 〈…〉 travelled was in many of Saint Jerom's Epistles 〈◊〉 by name Hâ— writ a book to heâ— De mundi Contemptu â— 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 Hereticks a fourth of blasphemy against the Holy Ghost a fifth of the study of Theophilus Bishop of Alexandria with others The same Saint Jerome witnesseth of Eustochium the daughter of one Paula a Roman Matron who was excellently practised in the Greek and Latin Dialects as also in the Hebrew Character insomuch that she in her time was called The new Prodigie of the World she gave her studie chiefly to meditation upon the Scriptures insomuch that she read the Psalms of David familiarly and without the least hesitation Anastasia the scholler to Crisogonus the Martyr and wife of Publius Romanus who faining a counterfeit disease sequestred himself from her and quite abandoned her bed she writ certain Epistles to her Master and Tutor Crisogonus in which she complained that all her means and substance was consumed and wasted by her impious and sacrilegious husband who most unnaturally deteined her in prison This devout woman for the Faith and ministring to the Saints was arraigned and condemned to the fire where she publickly suffered a most glorious Martyrdom of her Volaterran makes mention Giliberta Anglica was born in Maguns or Mens in Germany where she was beloved of a young scholler for whose sake and least their private and mutuall affection should at length come to the ears of her parents all virginall modesty and womanish fear set aside she put her selfe into a young mans habit fled from her fathers house and with her dear friend and Paramour came into England where as wel as to his observance and love she gave her self to the practise of the Arts and to attain to the perfection of Learning At length the young man dying finding her self entred into some knowledge and desirous to be further instructed as one having a