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
other insomuch that the horse opprest with hunger devoured her hence came that Adage 〈◊〉 upon Diogineanus More cruel then Hyppomanes Gregorius Turonensis remembers one Deuteria fearing lest her young daughter now grown ripe and marriageable who might be deflâ—ured by King Theodebertus cast her headlong into the river that runs by the City Viridunum where she was drowned Orchamus finding his daughter Leucothoe to be vitiated by Apollo caused her to be buried alive Lucilla the daughter of Marcus Antonus and Fausta as Herodian reports was slaine by the hand of her brother Commodus against whom she had before made a conjuration Lychione the daughter of Dedalion because she durst compare her selfe with Diana was by the goddesse wounded to death with an arrow at the celebration of whose exequies when her body was to be burnt her father likewise cast himselfe into the fire Hylonome the she Centaur seeing her husband Cillarius slain in the battell betwixt the Centaurs and the Lapithes fell upon his sword and so expired Anmianus and Marcellus lib. 16. have left recorded that Mithridates King of Pontus being overcome in a battell by Pompey committed his daughter Dyraptis to the safe custody of the Eunuch Menophilus to be kept in a strong Cittadel called Syntiarium which when Manutius Priscus had straitly besieged and the Eunuch perceived the defenders of the Castle dismaid and ready to submit themselves and give up the fort he drew out his sword and slew her rather then she should be mode a captive to the Roman General Sextas Aurelius writes of the Empresse Sabina the wife of Adrian who having suffered from him many grosse and servile injuries gave her selfe up to a voluntary death when she considered she had supported so inhumane a tyrant and such a contagious pest to the Common weal. Pontus de Fortuna speaks of a virgin amongst the Salattines called Neaera who grieving that a young man to whom she was betrothed had forsaken her and made choise of another caused her veins to be opened and bled to death Cleopatra after the death of Anthony lest she should be presented as a Captive to grace the triumphs of Augustus gave her arm to the biting of an Asp of which she died for in that manner was her picture presented in Rome of whom Propertius lib. 3. thus speaks Brachia spectavi sacris admorsa colubris Neaera and Charmione were the two handmaids of Cleopatra These as Plutarch and others report of them would by no perswasion survive their Queen and mistresse who perceiving as they were gasping betwixt life and death the Crown to be falne from the temples of their dead Lady raised themselves from the earth with the small strength they had left and placed it right again on her forehead that she might the better become her death which they had no sooner done but they both instantly fell down and breathed their last an argument of an unmatchable zeal to the Princesse their Lady Monima Miletia and Veronicha Chia were the wives of Mithridates who understanding of his tragicall fall and miserable end gave up their lives into the hands of the Eunuch Bochides Monima first hanged her self but the weight of her body breaking the cord she grew somewhat recovered and fell into this sad acclamation O execrable power of a diadâ—â— whose command even in this small sad service I cannot use which words were no sooner spoke but she offered her 〈◊〉 to the sword of the Eunuch who instantly dispatched 〈◊〉 both of life and torment Veronica drank oft a 〈◊〉 of wine tempered with person which dispersing into her veins and keeping her in a languishing torment her death was likewise hastned by the Eunuch Bochides A strange madnesse possest the Virgins of Milesia these as Aeltanus and others have writ gave themselves up to voluntary deaths many or the most strangling themselves this grew so common amongst them that scarce one day past in which some one or other of them were not found dead in their chambers To remedy which mischiefe the Senators of the City made a decree That what maid soever should after that time lay violent hands upon her self the body so found dead should be stript naked and in publick view dragg'd through the streets freely exposed to the â—ies of all men The impression of which shame more prevailing then the terror of death none was ever after known to commit the like outrage upon themselves Phaedra the step-mother to Hippolitus her son in law and wife of Theseus when she could not corrupt a young man her son in law to make incestuous the bed of his father despairing hung her selfe yet before her death she writ certain letters in which she accused Hippolitus to his father of incest which after proved the speedy cause of his death Amongst many strange deaths these of two mothers are not the least remarkable most strange it is that sudden joy should have much power to suffocate the spirits as the power of lightning The rumour of the great slaughter at the Lake of Thrasimenes being published one woman when beyond all hope she met her son at the City gate safely returned from the generall defeats cast her selfe into his arms where in that extasie of joy she instantly expired Another hearing her son was slain in the battell after much sorrow for his death sitting in her own house and spying him unexpectedly comming towards her safe and in health she was so overcome with sudden joy that not able to rise and give him meeting she died as she sate in her chaire Most strange it is that joy should make speedier way to death then sorrow these mothers Zoe remembred by Valerius Maximus lib. 9. cap. 12. So much I hope shall suffice for women that have died strange deaths for I had rather hear of many to live well then that any one should die ill I only intreat patience of the courteous Reader that as I have begun this book in sadnesse so he will give me leave to conclude it in jest Some no doubt though not justly will tax me for my too much intermixtion of history and say there be many things inserted not pertinent to my project in hand which might better have been left out then put in They in my conceit do but dally with me and put such a trick upon me as a Gentleman did upon a Country hostler My tale is but homely but it hath a significant Moral This traveller often using to a thorowfare Inne was much annoied by reason that betwixt his chamber and the stable where he commonly used to see his horse drest and meated there lay great heaps of pullens dung in his way which much offended him and being willing either to be rid of that inconvenience or punish him that might remedy it he took occasion to ask the hostler what dâ—nghill that was which was so offensive He answered him his
thought that for no criminall cause he was put out of his place and dismist his office that he desired an annuall fee from the treasury to whom Augustus replied Do thou then report openly that thou hast a pension and if any shall ask me about it I will not deny but that I have given it The same Augustus going into a shop to buy Purple or Scarlet for in those daies the Emperours were not so curious as some gentlemen are now he cheapning a piece of cloth but not liking the colour of it because it was not bright enough and the Draper having it seems a dark shop such as are common amongst us in our daies saith the Draper to him So please your Majesty but to hold it up into the light and you shall the colour more perfect Gramercy for that saith he so when I purpose to shew my selfe amongst my subjects to shew the true colour of my garments I must lâ—kewise be tied to walk upon the Tarresses and tops of houses Many other things are remembred of him worthy to be commended to posterity Philip the father of Alexander the Great had a custome when his army was in the field to leave his own Tent and come into the private Hals and Cabbins of his souldiers and observe how they spent their idle hours The Poet Calliniad then following the Camp to whom the King had a particular love he stole upon him one day and found him busily seething a Conger stirring up the fire skimming the Kettle and doing other such Cook-like offices for his particular diet the King clapt him upon the shoulder and said I never read O Poet that Homer when he was writing his famous work called the Iliaâ—ls could ever find so much spare time as to kindle a fire set on water and skimm a Conger To whom he presently answered Neither remember I O King that I ever read in Homer the Prince of Poets that Agamemnon in all the time of the ten years siege of Troy had such vacancy as thou hast now to prie into the Booths of his souldiers and neglecting the publike affairs to busie himselfe to know how every private man cookt his own diet This was a modest passage betwixt him that contended to art noble deeds and him that the King knew could give them full expression Erasmus lib. 6. Apoth speaks of the Orator Crassus That when one Piso being accused by Sylus for some words speaking had incurred a Censure and Crassus being then the advocate of Piso found that Sylus his testimony proceeded meerly from malice and envy after the Sentence was past Crassus thus spoke to Sylus It may be saith he this Piso notwithstanding this accusation was moved or angry when he spake those words who answered as reverencing his authority Sir It may be so It may be too Sylus said he thou didst not at that time rightly understand him who again answered It was like enough And it may be said Crassus again somewhat hastily That Piso never spoke those words which thou saiest thou heardest who answered unadvisedly and it may be so too At which the auditory fel into a great laughter Piso was acquit and Sylus punisht by the reversement of judgement It pleased a King of France who had heard a great fame of the learned Scotus to send for him and to seat him at his Table which was a grace not common with expectation it seems to hear from him some extraordinary rare discourse answerable to the fame was given him The scholler seeing such rarity and variety set before him only intended that for which he came and eat with a good â—ound stomak Which the King a pretty while observing interrupts him thus Domine quae est dâ—sserentia inter Scotum Scotum i. Sir What is the difference betwixt a Scot and a Scot To whom he without pause replied Mensa tantum i The Table only the King playing up in his name and be taxing the Kings ignorance A great Earl of this Kingdome was sent over by Queen Elizabeth to debate concerning State-businesse and joined with him in commission one Doctor Dale a worthy and approved scholler to meet with these froÌ„ the Spaniard were sent amongst other Commissioners Richardetti that was Secretary to K. Philip. These meeting about State-affairs question was made In what Language it was most fit to debate them Richardetti standing up and belike having notice that our Embassador was not well practised in the French tongue thus said In my opinion it is most fit that this businesse about which we are met be discoursed in French and my reason is because your Queen writes her selfe Queen of France At which word up start the Doctor and thus repli'd Nay then rather let it be debated in the Hebrew tongue since your King writes himselfe King of Jerusalem These may appear digressions I wil only because this is a womans book end this argument with the answer of a woman remembred by Petrarch Azo the Marquesse of Este was eminent for many extraordinary blessings both of Nature and Fortune But as these were never perfectly enjoied without some difficulty and trouble so it proved in him for having a beautiful to his wife he grew extreamly suspitious of her faith and loialty He having by her a young son and heir then in the Cradle looking earnestly upon him he 〈◊〉 a deep sigh of which she demanding the cause he thus said I would God wife this child were as certainly mine as it is assuredly thine to confirm which to mine own wishes and desires I would willingly part with the greatest moity of my means and fortunes To whom she answered Let this be neither griefe to your heart nor trouble to your mind for of this doubt I will instantly resolve you and taking the infant from the Cradle and holding it in her arms she thus said No man Sir I hope makes question but this child is mine to which words he assenting she thus proceeded Then to clear all former doubts and suspiâ—ions Receive him freely from my hands as my giâ—t and now you may presume he is only and absolutely yours Whether she equivocated or no I am not certain only this I am most sured of That she hath left a precedent behind her to all succeeding wives how their jealous husbands may be best confirmed in their suspected issue I fear I have been somwhat too long in the Preamble I wil therefore now proceed to the matter And first of Filial piety ascending from daughters to their Parents Of Pious Daughters OF Sons that have been remarkably grateful to their Parents for their birth and breeding the histories are 〈◊〉 and the examples infinite as of Coriolanus to his 〈…〉 in Lelio Dionysius Haâ—icarnâ—ssru◠〈…〉 Appianus c. as likewise of 〈…〉 of M Cotta Caius Flaminius Cimon remembred by â—ustine lib. 2. Cleobis and Bithon Amphinomus and Anapus recorded by Herodotus and Solinus the son of Croesus c. Yet should I undertake to
Thither Europa comes sweet flowers to cull Her Jove transports to Creete in shape of Bull. Cadmus her brother by Aegenor charg'd To see his sister by some means inlarg'd In his long search a monstrous Dragon slew From whose sown teeth men ready armed grew With these he founded Thebes after laments Actaeons fall born to such strange events Who by Diana to a Hart transform'd Was worried by his hounds Then Cadmus storm'd At his neer Kinsmans death This Juno joies Who in her hate faire Semele destroies The shape of her Nurse Beroe she assumes By whose bad counsell Semele presumes To ask her own death Now some few daies after Jove with his Queen dispos'd to mirth and laughter Dispute of Venus and desire to find Which Sex to pleasure should be most inclin'd Tiresius who before both sexes prov'd Judgeth the cause on Joves side Juno mov'd Deprives him fight to recompence his eies Jove fils him with spirit of Prophesies His augury Narcissus first made good Who ' gainst all womens loves opposed stood ' Mongst whom the faire Nymph Eccho by her sorrow Lost all save voice which she from voice doth borrow He pining with selfe-love was the same hower â—â—â—ing his sorm transhap'd into a flower Pentheus the sage Tâ—resius doth deride Though he before the truth had prophesied 〈◊〉 when god Bacchus writes were celebrated One of his Priests who had before related Of saylers turn'd to fishes he keeps bound Receiving from the Bacchides many a wound This makes the wine gods Orgyes of more fame Alcathoe with her sisters mock the same And at their distaffes many tales they tell First what unto the blacked Moors besell Of Phoebus to Eurinome transverst By which all lets and troubles are disperst That he may freely with Leucothoe lie For which the jealous Clytie seems to die But turns into a Turnsole they relate Hermophraditus next by wondrous fate And Salmacis both in one body mixt This done the sisters in their madnesse fixt Convert to Baâ—â— their spindles change to vines Their webs to leaves made by the god of wines At which whilst Agave rejoic'd her glee Is turn'd to discontent so she may see Ino and Arâ—amas of great renown Run headlong to a rock and thence leape down These being made sea gods whilst the Theban dames Lament their new change and invoke their names Amidst their sorrowes and sad funerall mones Part are made birds and part are turn'd to stones Cadmus with these calamities distrest Leaves Thebes and in Illyria he seeks rest Where with his wife debating ' midst the brakes They soon may see each other turn'd to snakes Alone 〈◊〉 still remains instated Of all that Bacchus and his Oryges hated Perseus his grand-child of faire Danae bred With crooked harp cuts off Gorgones head Whose purple drops as to the earth they fall Turn into Serpents and before him crawl Atlas he changeth into a mountain hie â—nd all those shackles that Andronia 〈◊〉 Are into stones converted many a â—old guest Intends to interrupt his bridall feast Where Phineus Pretus and their furious band Are chang'd â—o Marble and before him stand Pallas till now the noble Perseus guide Leaves him and through the aire doth gently glide To Helicon there doth the goddesse mean To view the famous Well call'd Hippocrene The nine Muse sisters of the Pyrens tell And what to the Pyerides befell How they contending with the Muses were Tran form'd to Pies still chattering every where By whose example Pallas soon puts on A Beldams shape transports her selfe anon To Ariachne who with her compares And having after strife wrought sundry chares Pallas transhapes her to a spider leaving Her antient Art to take delight in weaving This moves not Niobe who late had lost Her children and in divers turmoils tost Is chang'd to stone Now when the people knew This portent they the memory renew Of the base Lysian rusticks turn'd to Frogs And by Diana doom'd to live in bogs They Marsias likewise can remember still Who ranks his musick with Apollo's quill But he that ' gainst the gods sought praise to win In this contention lost both lawd and skin When all the neighbouring Cities came to chere Distressed Thebes the Athenians absent were And to their sorrowes can no comfort bring Being at home aw'd by a tyrant King Tereâ—s who the faire Philomel ' deflowring Turns to a Lapwing in the aire still towring As Philomel ' into a Nightingale And Progne to a Swallow This sad tale Vnto Pandion told he dies with griefe In whose sad Kingdome next succeeds as chiefe Ericteus Orithea the faire His daughter Boreas to his Kingdome bare Of her 〈◊〉 Calâ—in and Zâ—thus got Amongst the Argonauts these took their lot There Jason the white teeth of serpents sew Of which men arm'd in compleat harnesse grew The waking dragon made to sleep the Fleece Of gold from Phasis after brought to Greece Medea he bears thence She by her art Makes young old Aeson promising to impart Like good to Peleâ—s to his daughters showing From a decrepit Ram a young lamb growing But slew him by her fraud Transported thence She with Aegeus makes her residence Against whom Minos wars having collected Men from all places by his skill directed As some from Paros which long time before Arne betrai'd for which she ever wore The shape of Daw. King Aeacus supplies With Mirmidons that did from Pismires rise King Minos Cephalus these forces led Who seeking to adulterate his own bed Prevaiâ—â— with Procris whilst his dogs in chace Of a wild Fox both in the selfe same place Are chang'd â—o sione Minos Alchathoe won Nâ—â—us and Scylla are in shape foredone He to a Hawk she to a Larke is shifted And through the aire with their light feathers listed Thence he returns to Creet all sad and dul Where liv'd the Minotaure halfe Man halfe Bull Him Thâ—seus slew and after doth beguile Faire Ariadne left in Naxos Isle With her god Bacchus enters amorous wars And placeth on her head a Crown of stars Young Icarus with his old father flies And down into the sea drops from the skies His death whil'st Daedalus laments this sees The Patridge new transformed Now by degrees Theseus wins fame scarce spoken of before Being call'd to hunt the Calidoman Boare Which Mealeager slew and died by th' hand Of his own mother in the fatall brand His sisters with loud shreeks his death proclaime Being all chang'd into birds that bear his name He visits Acâ—elous in his way And all these Islands that but th' other day Were Nymphs and Nai'des which appeared true Since the like transformation Lelex knew In Baucis and Philemon whom he sees Growing before him in the shape of trees Their cottage made a Temple for their sakes The village where they dwelt all standing lakes Achelous adds to these the transformations Of Proteus and of Mestra with the fashions That he himselfe appeared in when he prov'd His strength
with life who was seen to enter there Therefore when Theseus came to Minos he sent him to be devoured by this Minotaur of which Ariadne having notice being enamoured of Theseus she sent him a sword by which he slew the monstrous Homicide and that was the clew so often remembred by the Poets which guided Theseus out of the Labyrinth Canace Canusia Valeria Tusculana MAcareus and Canace were brother and sister the sonne and daughter to Aeolus King of the winds for so the Poets feigned him because the clouds and mists arising from the seven Aeolian Islands of which he was King alwaies pretended great gusts and tempests he is reported to be the son of Jupiter and Alceste daughter to Hyppotes the Tyrian of whom he had the denomination of Hippotides This Macareus and Canace having most lewdly and incestuously loved one another covering their bedding and bosoming under the unsuspected pretext of consanguinity and neernesse in blood It could no longer be conceal'd by reason Canace at length brought forth a son which as she would secretly have conveied out of the Court by the hands of her trusty Nurse who had been before acquainted with all their wicked proceedings the infant by crying betraied it selfe to the grandfather who searching the Nurse examining the matter finding the incest and miserably distracted with the horridnesse of the fact instantly in the heat of his incensed anger caused the innocent infant to be cut in pieces and limb by limp cast to the dogs and before his face devoured This Macareus hearing took sanctuary in the Temple of Apollo but Canace by reason of her greennesse and weak estate not able to make escape and shun the violence of her fathers threatned fury he sent her a sword and withall commanded her to punish her selfe according to the nature of the fact Which she receiving writ a passionate letter to her brother in which she first besought him to have a care of his safety and next to cause the bones of the slaughter'd infant to be gathered together and put into an urn with hers this having done with the sword sent her by her father she transpierc'd her self and so expired The like weread of Canusia daughter of Papirius Volucris who being found with child by Papirius Romanus her own naturall brother when the heinousnesse of the fact came to the knowledge of the father he sent to either of them a sharp sword with which they as resolutely slew themselves as they had before rashly offended The like successe of her incestuous affection had Valeria Tusculana who as Plutarch relates by the counsell of one of her handmaids comming privately in the night into the arms of her father and the deed after made known to Valerius he in detestation of the act slew her with his own hand Julia the Empresse THese abominable sins that have been punisht in inferiour persons have in great ones been countenanced Sextus Aurelius and Aelius Spartianus both testifie That Antonius Caracalla Emperour doting upon his stepmother Julia was often heard to say in her presence I would if it were lawfull at length apprehending his purpose to these his words she made this reply What you list to doe O Emperour you may make lawfull Princes have power to make Lawes but are not tied to keep any by which words imboldned he took her to his bed whose son Geta but a while before he had caused to be slain Herodotus remembers us of one Opaea the stempmother to Scithes King of the Scythians who likewise took her to his bed and made her his Queen So Berenices the sister of Ptolomaeus Evergetes was made partner both of his bed and Kingdome Arsinoe the sister of Ptolomaeus Philadelphus became his concubine The like did Herod Antipas unto Herodias the wife of his brother Philip. We read also of one Leucon who slew his brother Oxilochus King oâ— Pontus for the love of his wife whom he after married Faustina the sister of Marcus Antonius Emperour became her brothers paramour on whom he begat Lucilla whom he after gave in marriage to his brother L. Antonius Theodoricus King of the Frenchmen married the daughter of his own brother whom he before had slain And Pontanus remembers us of one Johannes Ariminensis who espoused his own sister Philip the brother of Alphonsus the tenth King of Spaine forcibly married Christiana daughter to the King of Dacia his own brothers wife all Christianity and Religion set apart Volaterranus remembers us of one Stratonice who being devishly doted on by Antiochus Soter King of Syria his own father at his importunity gave her up into his sons incestuous embraâ—es Virgil in his tenth book speaks of Casperia stepmother to Anchemolus the son of Rhaetus King of the Marâ—ubians who was by him adulterated These prodigious acts have been encouraged by Kings drawing their presidents from Jupiter who vitiated Ceres and married his sister Juno when in my opinion the industry of the Poets in illustrating the escapes of Jupiter and the other gods was aimed at no other end then to manifest unto all men That such deities were not worthy adoration that were calumnized with so many whoredomes adulteries and incests The sisters of Cambyses THese might seem fearfull enough before related but I will give you a short taste of some more abominable I have shewed the examples of Lust but these following are besides lust polluted with unheard of Tyranny Herodotus in his third book speaking at large of the life and acts of Cambyses the great Persian King and son of Cyrus relates that having shewed his puissance abroad in Egypt Greece and other places to the terror of the greatest of the world he caused his innocent brother Smerdis to be secretly made away by the hand of his most trusted Praxaspes The next inhumanity which he purposed to exemplifie unto the world was the death of his sister who followed him in his Camp to Egypt and back again being not only his sister by parents but his wife also The manner how she came to be his Queen was as followeth Before his time it was not lawfull but punishable amongst the Persians to marry into that proximity of blood but Cambyses surprized with the love of his sister and having resolved by what means soever to make her his wife yet to colour his purpose he sent for those honourable persons who were stiled the Kings Judges being selected men for their wisedomes and of great place and quality as those that enjoy their offices Durante via unlesse some capitall crime be proved against them besides they are the expounders of the Lawes and to their causes all matters of doubt and controversie are referred These being convented The King demanded of them Whether they had any one law amongst so many which licenc'd a man that had a will so to do to contract matrimony with his sister to whom the Judges thus ingeniously answered We
the poor The King upon Holy-Rood day was released and besieged the Empresse in the City of Oxford from Michelmas day to mid winter where being oppressed with famine she took the advantage of the Frost and Snow and attiring her selfe all in white escaped over the Fens and came to the Castle of Wallingford And so much shall suffice to expresse the magnanimity and warlike dispositions of two noble and heroick English Ladies A French Lady comes now in my way of whom I wil give you a short character In the minority of Henry the sixt when France which was once in his entire possession was there governed by our English Regents the famous Duke of Bedsord and others Charls the Dolphin stiled after by the name of Charls the seventh being a Lord without land yet at that time maintaining what hostility he was able whilst the English forraged through France at their will and commanded in all places at their own pleasure the French in utter despaire of shaking oft the English yoke there arose in those desperate times one Joane Are the daughter of James Are and his wife Isabel born in Dâ—mprin This James was by profession a Shepherd and none of the richest Joane whom the French afterwards called Joane de Pucil whilst she was a young maid and kept her fathers sheep would report to divers That our blessed Lady S. Agnes and S. Katharine had appear'd unto her and told her that by her means France should regain her pristine liberty and cast off the yoke of English servitude This comming to the eare of one Peter Bradicourt an eminent Captain then belonging to Charls the Dolphin he used means that she should be sent to have conference with his master who sojourned then in Chynon in his lowest of dejection and despair of hope supply or comfort In her journie thither she came to a Town called Faire-bois where taking up her Inne a place which she had never before seen she desired a souldier to goe to a secret by-corner where was a heap of old iron and from thence to bring her a sword The souldier went according to her direction and searching the place amidst a great quantity of old tongs shovels hand irons and broken horse shooes found a faire bright sword with five Flower-Deluces upon either side engraven This sword with which she after committed many slaughters upon the English she girt to her and so proceeded to Chynon to give the Dolphin meeting Being there arrived Charls concealed himself amongst many others whilst he was brought into a faire long gallery where he had appointed another to take his place and to assume his person she looking upon him gave him neither respect nor reverence but sought out Charls among all the other in that assembly and pickt him from amongst the rest to whom making a low obeisance she told him that to him only was her businesse The Dolphin at this was amazed the rather because she had never before seen him and was somewhat comforted by reason that she shewed chear and alacrity in her countenance they had together long and private conference and shortly after she had an army given him to be disposed and directed by her She then bespake her selfe armor Cap a Pe bearing a white Ensign displaid before her in which was pourtraied the picture of the Saviour of the world with a Flower-de-luce in his hand and so marched to Oâ—leance Her first exploit was fortunately to raise the siege and â—elieve the Town From thence she passed to Reams took the City and caused the Dolphin there to proclaim himselfe King and take upon him the Crown of France She after took Jargueux a strong Town and in it the Earl of 〈◊〉 with many other brave English Gentlemen She â—ought the great battell of Pathay with good successe in which were taken prisoners the Lord Talbot the scourge and terror of the French Nation the Lord Scales the Lord Hungerford with many others both of name and quality she took in Benveele Mehun Trois and divers other Towns of great import and consequence at length in a caâ—â—â—ado or skirmish she was taken prisoner by Sir John of Entenburch a Burgonian Captain and sent to Roan The French Chronicles affirm that the morning before she was surprized she took the Sacrament and comming from Church told to divers that were about her that she was betraid her life sold and should shortly after be delivered up unto a violent death For Sir John gave a great sum of monie to betray her The English comming to invest themselves before Mondidier Joan was advised to issue out by Flaâ—y and skirmish with them who was no sooner out but he shut the gates upon her being taken she was sent to Peter Bishop of Bevoise who condemned her to the fire for a forceresâ—e which judgement was accordingly executed upon her in Roan in the Market place Twenty six years after Charls the King for a great sum of monie procured an annihilation of the first sentence from the Pope in which she was proclaimed a Viâ—ago inspired with divine instinct in memory of whose vertuous life and unjust death he caused a faire crosse to be erected just in the place where her body was burned I return again to the English Fâ—bâ—an and Harding speak of Emma sister to the Norman Duke called Richard who for her extraordinary beauty was called The flower of Normandy she was married to Eâ—helâ—ed King of England By 〈◊〉 heroick spirit and masculine instigation the King seat to all parts of the Kingdome secret and strict commissions That upon a day and hour assigned all these Danes which had usurped in the Land and used great cruelty should be slaughtered which at her behest and the Kings command was accordingly performed which though it after proved ominous and was the cause of much misery and mischiefe yet it shewed in her a noble and notable resolution Oâ— Queen Margaret the wiâ—e of Henry the sixt her courage resolution and magnanimity to speak at large would ask a Volume rather then a compendious discourse to which I am strictly tied And therefore whosoever is desirous to be further instructed in the successe of those many battels fought against the house of York in which she was personally present I refer them to our English Chronicles that are not sparing in commending her more then womaâ—ish spirit to everlasting memory With her therefore I conclude my female Martialists And now me thinks I am come where I would be and that is amongst you faire ones Of faire Women IT is reported of a King that for many yeers had no issue and desirous to have an heire of his own blood and begetting to succeed in the throne upon his earnest supplication to the divine powers he was blessed with a faire son both of beauty and hope And now being possessed of what he so much desired his second care was to see him so educated that he might have as much comfort
〈◊〉 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
Lady with her son to King Polydectes He surprized with her beauty married her and caused her son Perseus to be educated in the Temple of Minerva and after made attonement betwixt them and Acrisius But Polydectes dying at the funerall games celebrated at his death in casting of a mighty stone being one of the exercises then used Perseus whose hand failed him cast it unawares upon the head of Acrisius and slew him against his own purpose making good the will of the Oracle Acrisius being buried Perseus succeeded his grandfather in the City Argos Helena was first â—avished by Theseus and afterwards by Paris she had these suitors Antiochus Ascalaphus Ajax Oeleus Antimachus Aeceus Blanirus Agapenor Ajax Telamonius Clyrius Cyanaeus Patroclus Diomedes Penelaeus Phaemius Nyraeus Polyâ—â—tes Elephenor Fumetus Stâ—nelus Tlepolemus Protesilaus Podalyrius Euripilus Idomâ—naeus Telioâ—es Tallius Polyxeâ—us Protus Menestaeus Machaon Thoas Vlysses Philippus Meriones Mâ—ges Philocletes Laeonteus Talpius Prothous but she was possessed by 〈◊〉 Auge was the faire daughter of Aleus and comprest by Hercules and delivered of her son in the mountain Parthenius at the same time Atalanta the daughter of Jasius exposed her son begot by Mâ—leager unto the same place these children being found by the Shepherds they called the son of Hercules Telephus because he was nursed by a Hart which sed him with her milk they called the son of Meleager Parthenopaeus of the mountain Auge fearing her fathers displeasure fled into Moesia to King Teâ—thrus who for her beauties sake having himselfe no children adopted her his heire These following are the fiâ—ty fair daughters of Danaeus with the fifty sons of Aegiptus whom the first night of their marriage they slew Idea killed Antimachus Philomela Pantheus Scilla Pâ—oteus Philomone Plexippus Euippe Agenor Demoditas Chrysippus Hyale Perius Trite Enceladus Damone Amintor Hypothoe Obrimus Mirmidone Mineus Euridice Canthus Cleo Asterius Arcania Xanthus Cleopatra Metalces Philea Phylinas Hyparite Protheon Chrysothemis Asterides Pyraule Athamas her name is lost that slew Armoasbus Glaucippâ— Niavius Demophile Pamphilus Antodice Clytus Polyxena Egyptus Hecabe Driantes Achemantes Echominus Arsalle Ephialtes Monuste Euristhenes Amimone Medamus Helice Evideus Amoeme Polydector Polybe Iltonomus Helicta Cassus Electra Hyperantus Eubule Demarchus Daplidice Pugones Hero Andromachus Europone Atlites Pyrantis Plexippus Critomediâ— Antipaphus Pyrene Dolychus Eupheno Hyperbius Themistagora Podasiâ—us Palaeno Ariston Itaea Antilochus Erate Endemon Hypâ—â—â—â—nestra was the only Lady that in that great slaughter spaâ—ed her husband Lyncaeus What should I speak of Antigona the sister of Polynices Electra the daughter of Clytemneâ—tâ—a Hermâ—â—ne of Heten Polyxena of Hecuba Iphigenia of Agameniaon Erigone Merope Proserpina Amimone Oenone Calisâ—e Alope the daughter of Cercyon and Theophane of Bysaltis both stuprated by Neptune Theonoe and Zeutippe the daughters of Thestor Chione otherwise called Philâ—nide the daughter of Dedalion Coramis the daughter of Phlegia adulterated by Apollo Nictimine comprest by her father Epopeus The very Index or Catalogue of whose names only without their histories would ask a Volume For their number I will refer you to Ovid in his first book de Aâ—te Amandi Gargara quot sâ—getes c. Thick as ripe ears in the Gargarian fields As many green boughs as Methimna yeelds Fâ—sh Foule or Stars in Sea Air Heaven there be So many pretty wenches Rome in thee Aeneas mother is still lov'd and fear'd In that great City which her son first rear'd If only in young girls thou do'st rejoice There 's scarce one house but it affoords thee choice If in new-married wives but walk the street And in one day thou shalt with thousands meet Or if in riper years but look before Where ere thou go'st thou shalt find Matrons store If then one City and at one time could affoord such multiplicity of all ages and degrees how many by that computation may we reckon from the beginning amongst all the nations of the world I doubt not then but this draught of water fetch'd from so vast a fountain may at least cool the palate if not quench the thirst of the insatiate Reader Manto ZEbalia a man whose birth ranked him in the file of nobility being emploied upon service in the Turkish wars brought with him his most estimated and greatest treasure his deerest spouse stiled Manto But he dying in the crimson bed of honour the sinister hand of war gave her into the captivity of Bassa Jonuses who beholding with admiration a creature of so divine a feature was though her conqueror taken captive by her beauty who having put her vertue to the Test found it to parallel if not out shine her form Wherefore being covetous to engrosâ— so rich a booty to himselfe he took her to wife bestowing on her a more honourable respect then on his other wives and concubines and she likewise endeavoured to meet his affection with an answerable observance and obedience This fervent and mutuall love continued long inviolate betwixt them insomuch that they were no lesse honoured for their eminence of state then remarkable for their conjugall affection but that cursed fiend Jealousie envying at their admired sympathy stâ—aight usurpâ— the throne of reason and sits a predominant tyrant in his fantastick brain for he grew so strangely jealous that he thought some one or other to corrivall him but yet knew noâ— whom to â—aint with any just suspicion nay he would confesse that he had not catcht the least spark of loosenesse from her that might thus fire this beacon of distraction in him Briefly his wife as beautifull in mind as feature wearied with his daily peevish humours and seeing all her studies aimed at his sole content were enterteined with neglect and insolent scorn she resolved to leave him and secretly to flie into her native Country to further which she unlocks this her secret intent to an Eunuch of the Bassaes giving him withall certain letters to deliver to some friends of hers whom she purposed to use as agents in the furtherance of her escape but he proving treacherous in the trust committed to his charge betrai'd her to her husband shewing her letters as testimonies to his allegations The Bassa at this discovery swoln big with rage called her before him whom in his desperate fury he immediately stabbed with his dagger thus with the cause of jealousie taking away the effect But this bloody deed somewhat loosened him 〈◊〉 the peoples hearts where he before grew deeply and â—â—st rooted nor did he out-run vengeance for at the last her leaden feet overtook him and in this manner Selymus the first at his departure from Cairo his soldiers whom he there left in garrison made suit unto his Highnesse That in consideration of the great labours they had already undergone together with the many dangers they were hourly in expectation of that their wages might be enlarged which he granted and withall gave this Bassa Jonuses the charge to see the performance thereof At last the
power then the King himselfe who long sleeping in this dream of majesty having given away all that was essentiall in a King he fell sick and died leaving behind him a child of five years old by his afore murthered wife and sister Laodice But his death was by these favourites long concealed whilst they had by all covetous Rapine snatched what they might out of the Kings treasurie by this to strengthen a faction of the most base and dissolute subjects that by monie thus ill got and debauch'd souldiers thus levied they might set safe footing in the Empire but it fel out far otherwise for the Kings death and their design was no sooner discovered but in the rude Concourse of the multitude the Minion Agathocles was first slain and the two women the mother and the daughter were in revenge of murthered Laodice hanged upon gybets being now made a scorn to every man that was before a terror to all the pupillage of the infant and the sâ—feâ—y of the Realm to his use the Romans most nobly after took to their protection Cleophis ALexander the Great after many conquests entring into India that he might contermine his Empire with the Ocean and the utmost parts of the East and to which glory that the ornaments of his army might suit the trappings of his horses and the armor of his souldiers were all studded with silver and his main army of their Targets of silver as Curtius writes he caused to be called Argyraspides In processe by gentle and pleasurable marches they came to the City Nisa the Citizens making no opposition at all trusting to the reverence due to Liber Pater by whom they say the City was first erected and for that cause Alexander caused it to be spared passing those fruitfull Hils where grapes grow in abundance naturally and without the help of aiâ— or hand of man he thence passed the Dedalian mountains even to the Provinces and Kingdome of the Queen Cleophis who hearing of his victories and fearing of his potency thought rather to affront him by fair means then by force by policy then power for knowing her self to be a woman of extraordinary state and beauty the by her Embassadors sollicited an enterview which Alexander granting she appeared before him of such a Queen-like majesty and her accomplishments of nature so helpt with the ornaments of art for she was adorned with the richest and best shining stones of India that her glory so captivated the heart of the conqueror that they came to treat of composition she proposing to him That it were no honour for so magnificent a victor so famous through the world for his conquests over men to insult upon the weak spoils of a woman inured to no other arms then the arms of a sweet and loving bedfellow yet if for the ransome of her Empire he would accept of her love and service in that kind she was there in person at his command his subject and servant Her beauty with this submission wrought such impression in the King that it was concluded betwixt them and by both parties agreed That at her honour should be the ranson of her Empire In conclusion they lovingly lay together and so ended these threatned hostilities in an amorous peace her body he left tainted but her Kingdome untouched She was that night with child by him of a son whom after his fathers name she called Alexander he inherited the Kingdome after her but by the Indians from that time forward in regard of her prostitution she was called the Kings whore Callipyge SO much were the Grecians given to all voluptuousnesse and pleasure that amongst others divers Chappels and Temples were dedicated to Venus Callipyga the word importing Quasi pulchras habens nates i. She that hath faire buttocks the originall of that superstition as Aegenaeus relates was this A Countrey Farmer being the father of two beautifull young Virgins these two concluded betwixt themselves which should have the priority in beauty But modesty forbidding them to dispute it with open faces they concluded between themselves to come to a place adjoining to the high-way and there to expose their back-parts naked to all such as passed by and so by the most voices to be censured Amongst many others a noble young young Gentleman of the next City by accident passing that way and somewhat astonished at so unwonted an object enquired the reason thereof and by one of the spectators being presently resolved â—e as suddenly gave the Palm to the elder and intimating by that he saw what the rest might prove grew greatly enamored and returning to his fathers house surprized with melancholly was of his brother demanded the cause he after some few bashful denials stil urged with the others importunacies discovered to him the whole circumstance of the businesse The brother desirous to be further instructed was by the lover conducted to the place and object which made him first grow enamoured whither he was no sooner brought but he grew presently inflamed with the love of the younger and gave his censure on her part These two had an old Senator to their father who much observed his children of him they demanded these virgins in marriage but he proposing to themselves matches more honourable they would no way assent But won at length with their importunacies he sent in their behalfe to the Farmer to demand his daugters in marriage An enterview was granted the parties agreed a marriage concluded and after comsummate with satisfaction on all sides From which time ever after the two young married wives were called Callipyga Of these Cercidas Megapolitanus in his lambicks to this purpose speaks These two lived in Syracusa who by their marriage having attained to wealth sufficient erected a famous Chappell to Venus whom they stiled Dea Callipyga These divers other Cities of Greece after them imitated This History Archelaus likewise in his Lambicks records Alogunes Cosmartidenes Andia YOU shall read in the History taken out of Ex Ctesiae Persicis That Artaxerxes being dead Xerxes his sonne succeeded the legitimate heir by his wife Damaspia who died the same day with her husband therefore to be registred amongst the women most illustrious after their deaths the Eunuch Bagorazus caused both their bodies to be born into Persia and there to be entombed amongst their ancestors It is remembred of this Emperor Artaxerxes that he had by severall concubins seventeen bastards amongst these was Secundianus born of Alogunes he by treason succeeded Xerxes having before slain his brother this Alogunes was born in Babylon By another concubine in the same City called Cosmartidenes he had two sons Ochus and Arsiâ—es this Ochus by supplanting his brother Secundianus reigning some few months succeeded him in the Empire Xerxes had issue likewise by one Andia a Lady of the same Nation Bagapaeus and Parisatis who was the mother of one Cyrus and another Artaxerxes Xerxes the Persian Emperour yet living gave to his
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