houre so did the mother who came thither on purpose to reforme her sonne but he being hot and too forward in the action and she ouercome either by the inticements of the diuell the weakenesse of her Sex or both gaue herselfe vp to Incestuous prostitution the young man knowing no otherwise but that hee had inioyed the maid Of this wicked and abhominable congression a woman child was begot of whom the mother to saue her reputation was secretly deliuered and put it out priuately to nourse but at the age of seuen yeares tooke it home When this child grew to yeares the most infortunate sonne fell in loue with his sister and daughter and made her his vnhappie wife what shall I thinke of this detestable sinne which euen beasts themselues abhor of which I will giue you present instance Aristotle in his historie Annimal who was a diligent searcher into all naturall things affirmes that a Cammell being blinded by his keeper was brought to horse his damme but in the action the cloth falling from his eyes and he perceiuing what he had done presently seised vpon his keeper and slew him in detestation of the act he had committed and to reuenge himselfe vpon him that had betraied him to the deed The like the same author reports of a horse belonging to a king of Scythia who could by no meanes be brought to couer his damme but being in the same fashion beguiled and the cloath falling away and perceiuing what hee had done neuer left bounding flinging and galloping till comming vnto an high rocke hee from thence cast himselfe headlong into the sea If then this sinne be so hatefull in bruite beasts and vnreasonable creatures how much more ought it to be auoided in men and women and which is more Christians Cyborea the mother of Iudas Iscariot THis that I now speake of is remembred by Ranulphus Monke of Chester Ierome and others There was a man in Ierusalem by name Reuben of the Tribe of Isachar his wife was called Cyborea The first night of their marriage the woman dreamed that she was conceiued of a sonne who should bee a traytour to the Prince of his owne people she told it to her husband at which they were both sad and pensiue The child being borne and they not willing to haue it slaine and yet loath to haue it prooue such a monster to his owne nation they in a small boat cast it to sea to try a desperate fortune this vessell was driuen vpon an Island called Iscariot where the Queene of that place had then no child This babe being found she purposed to make it her owne and put it to be nobly nurced and educated calling his name Iudas and Iscariot of the Island where he was taken vp But not long after shee was conceiued of a sonne who prouing a noble and hopefull gentleman Iudas whose fauour in court began to wane and his hope of inheritance which but late flourisht now quite to wither he plotted against his life and priuately slew him but fearing least the murder might in time bee discouered and hee compeld to suffer according to the nature of the fact hee fled thence to Ierusalem where he got into the seruice of Pontius Pilatus and found meanes to be protected by him being then in the cittie deputie gouernour for the Romans Iudas because their dispositions were much of one condition grew into his especiall familiaritie and fauour The Pallace of Pilot hauing a faire bay window whose prospect was into Reubens Orchard he had a great appetite to eate of some of those ripe apples which shewed so yellow and faire against the sunne This Iudas vnderstanding promist him to fetch him some of that fruit and mounting ouer the orchard wall he was met by his father who rebuking him for the iniurie Iudas with a stone beat out his braines and vnseene of any conueyed himselfe backe Reubens death was smothered and the murderer not knowne Cyborea being a rich widdow Pylate made a match betwixt her and his seruant Iudas who being marryed to his mother was now possest of his owne fathers inheritance Not long this incestuous couple had liued together but Cyborea being vpon a time wondrous sad and melancholy and Iudas demanding the cause she began to relate to him her many misfortunes First of her dreame then of her sonne in what manner he was put to sea then how she lost her husband being slaine and the murderer not found and lastly how by the authoritie of Pilat she was now compeld to match against her will who had protested to her selfe a lasting widdowhood By these circumstances Iudas most assuredly knew that he had slaine his father and had marryed his mother which acknowledging to her she persuaded him to repent him of these great euills and to become a Disciple of Iesus who was then an eminent Prophet amongst the Iewes It shall not be amisse to speake a word or two of Pilate It is said that a king whose name was Tyrus begat him on a Millers daughter Pyla whose father was called Atus who from his mother and grandfather was called Pylatus at foure yeares of age he was brought to his father who by his lawfull wife had a prince iust of the same age These were brought vp together in all noble exercises in which the prince hauing still the best Pylat awaited his opportunitie and slew him loath was the king to punish him with death least he should leaue himselfe altogether Issulesse therefore hee sent him an hostage to Rome for the payment of certaine tribute which was yearly to be tendred into the Roman treasurie Liuing there as hostage he assotiated himselfe with the son to the king of France who lay pledge in Rome about the like occasion and in a priuate quarrell was also slaine by Pylat The Romans finding him of an austere brow and bloodie disposition made him gouernour of the Island called Pontus the people were irregular and barbarous whom by his seueritie he reduced to all ciuill obedience for which good seruice he was remooued to Ierusalem bearing the name of Pontius from that Island there hee gaue sentence against the Sauiour of the world Tiberius Caesar being then Emperour was sicke of a grieuous maladie who hearing that in Ierusalem was a Prophet who with a word healed all infirmities whatsoeuer hee sent one Volutianus to Herod to send him this man but Christ was before condemned and crucified There Volutianus acquainted himselfe with one Veronica a noble Ladie of the Iewes who went with him to Rome and carried with her the lynnen cloth which still bore the impresse and likenesse of Christs visage vpon which the Emperour no sooner looked but he was immediately healed The Emperour then vnderstanding the death of this innocent and just man caused Pylat to be brought to Rome who being called before Caesar the historie saith he had at that time vpon him the roabe of our Sauiour which was called Tunica
bearing with her in her wombe a child begot by Salomon Lycasth in Theat Human. vitae Lib. 1. cap. de Femin doctis Adesia a woman of Alexandria a neere kinswoman to the Philosopher Syrianus both for her Chastitie and Learning is commemorated by Suidas Vata Lib. 13. cap. 3. Antrop Nicostrata by some called Carmentis helped to make vp the number of the Greeke Alphabet shee is also said to haue added to our Roman Letters Hermodica was the wife of Midas king of Phrygia shee is not onely celebrated for her rare feature and beautie but for her wisedome shee was the first that euer stamped Money or made Coyne amongst the Cimenses Heraclides Numa was the first that made Money amongst the Romanes of whose name it was called Nummus Isiodor Lib. 16. cap. 17. It is likewise called Pecunia of Pecus which signifies Cattell for the first that was made to passe currant betwixt man and man was made of the skinnes of beasts stamped with an impression It hath beene currant amongst our English Nation part of it may at this day be seene as an antient Monument in the Castle of Douer Saturne made Money of Brasse with inscriptions thereon but Numa was the first that coyned Siluer and caused his name to be engrauen thereon for which it still retaines the name in the Roman Tongue and is called Nummus Aspasia was a Milesian Damosell and the beloued of Pericles shee was abundantly skilled in all Philosophicall studies shee was likewise a fluent Rhetorician Plutarchus in Pericles Socrates imitated her in his Facultas Politica as likewise Diotima whom he blushed not to call his Tutresse and Instructresse Of Lasthenea Mantinea Axiothaea and Phliasia Platoes schollers in Philosophie I haue before giuen a short Character Themiste was the wife of Leonteius Lampsacenus and with her husband was the frequent Auditor of Epicurus of whom Lactantius sayth That saue her none of the ancient Philosophers euer instructed any woman in that studie saue that one Themiste Arete was the wife of Aristippus the Philosopher and attained to that perfection of knowledge that shee instructed her sonne in all the liberall Arts by whose industrie hee grew to be a famous professor Hee was called Aristippus and shee surnamed Cyrenaica Shee followed the opinions of that Aristippus who was father to Socrates Shee after the death of her father erected a Schoole of Philosophie where shee commonly read to a full and frequent Auditorie Genebria was a woman of Verona shee liued in the time of Pius the second Bishop of Rome Her Workes purchased for her a name immortall Shee composed many smooth and eloquent Epistles polished both with high conceits and iudgement shee pronounced with a sharpe and lowd voyce a becomming gesture and a facundious suauitie Agallis Corcyrua was illustrious in the Art of Grammar Caelius ascribes vnto her the first inuention of the play at Ball. Leontium was a Grecian Damosell whom Gallius calls a strumpet shee was so well seene in Philosophicall contemplations that she feared not to write a worthie booke against the much worthie Theophrastus Plin. in Prolog Nat. Histor. Cicero lib. de Natur. Deorum Dâ—mâ— the daughter of Pythagâ—ras imitated the steps of her father as likewise his wife Theâ—no her husband the mother and the daughter both prouing excellent schollers Laerâ— Themistoclea the sister of Pythagoras was so practised a student that in many of his workes as he himselfe confesseth hee hath implored her aduise and iudgement Istrina Queene of Scythia and wife to king Ariâ—ithes instructed her sonne Sythes in the Greeke Tongue as witnesseth Herodotus Plutarch in Pericte saith That Thargelia was a woman whom Philosophie solely illustrated as likewise Hyparchia Greca Laâ—râ—â— Cornelia was the wife of Africanus and mother to the noble Familie of the Gracobi who left behind her certaine Epistles most elaborately learned From her as from a Fountaine flowed the innate eloquence of her children therefore Quintil thus sayth of her Wee are much bound to the Mother or Matron Cornelia for the eloquence of the Gracchi whose vnparaleld learning in her exquisite Epistles she hath bequeathed to posteritie The same Author speaking of the daughters of Laelius and Quint. Hortensius vseth these words The daughters of Laelius is sayd in her phrase to haue refined and excelled the eloquence of her father but the daughter of Q. Hortensius to haue exceâ—ded her Sex in honor So likewise the facundity of the two Lyciniaes flowed hereditarily from their father L. Crassus as the two daughters of Mutia inherited the learning of either parent Fuluia the wife of M. Antonius was not instructed in womanish cares and offices but as Volater lib. 16. Antrop reports of her rather to direct Magistracies and gouerne Empires she was first the wife of Curio Statius Papinius was happie in a wife called Claudia excellent in all manner of learning Amalasuntha Queene of the Ostrogothes the daughter of Theodoricus king of those Ostrogothes in Italie was elaborately practised in the Greeke and Latine Tongues shee spake distinctly all the barbarous Languages that were vsed in the Easterne Empires Fulgosius lib. 8. cap. 7. Zenobia as Volaterran speakes from Pollio was Queene of the Palmirians who after the death of Odenatus gouerned the kingdome of Syria vnder the Roman Empire shee was nominated amongst the thirtie Tyrants and vsurped in the time of Gallenus but after beeing vanquished in battaile by the Emperour Aurelianus was led in triumph through Rome but by the clemencie of that Prince she was granted a free pallace scituate by the riuer of Tyber where shee moderately and temperatly demeaned her selfe shee is reported to be of that chastitie that she neuer entertained her husband in the familiar societie of bed but for issues sake and procreation of children but not from the time that shee found her conception till her deliuerie shee vsed to bee adored after the maiesticke state and reuerence done to the great Sophies of Persia. Beeing called to the hearing of any publique Oration shee still appeared with her head armed and her helmet on in a purple mantle buckled vpon her with rich jems she was of a cleare and shrill voice magnanimous and haughtie in all her vndertakings most expert in the Aegyptian and Greeke Tongues and not without merit numbred amongst the most learned and wisest Queenes Besides diuerse other workes she composed the Orientall and Alexandrian Historie Hermolaus and Timolus her two sonnes in all manner of disciplines shee liberally instructed of whose deaths it is not certaine whether they dyed by the course of nature or by the violent hand of the Emperour Olimpia Fuluia Morata was the ornament and glorie of our latter times the daughter of Fulu Moratus Mantuanus who was tutor in the Arts to Anna Prince of Ferrara shee was the wife of Andreas Gunthlerus a famous Physitian in Germanie shee
losse which I must forciblly suffer The rest wondring at her sudden change from myrth to passion next at her alteration of looke and lastly at her mysticall language when her words were scarce ended but a messenger rushed hastily into the roome and told her that her eldest sonne with all the whole familie at home were found suddenly dead which she no sooner heard but ouercome with sorrow she fainted and beeing recouered and conducted to her owne house she tooke her bed and presently caused the onely two children she had liuing to be sent for the one a Monke the other a Nunne who presently came to visit her and know her pleasure to whom with a pensiue and destracted heart the teares running from her eyes she thus speake Alas my children behold me your mother and commiserat my wretched and distressed estate whose fate hath beene so maleuolent and disastrous that I haue hetherto beene a wicked professor of diabolicall Witchraft hauing beene a mistresse of that Art and a great persuader to those abhominations now all the refuge I haue to flie to is your religious zeale and pietie in this despaire for now is the time that the Deuils will exact their due Those that persuaded me to this mischiefe are readie to demand their Couenant Therefore by a mothers loue I charge you and by your filiall dutie I coniure you since the Sentence of may Soules perdition is irreuocable that you will vse your best endeuour and industrie for the preseruation of my Bodie This therefore I enioyne you in stead of a Winding-sheet sowe my Bodie in the skinne of a Hart or Bucks Leather then put me in a Coffin of Stone which couer with Lead and after bind it with Hoopes or Barres of Iron to which fasten three strong Chaynes If my Bodie thus coffin'd lye three dayes quiet burie me the fourth day though I feare the Earth for my manifold Blasphemies will scarce giue entertainment to my Bodie For the first two nights together let there be fiftie Psalmes sung for me and as many Masses for so many dayes which said shee gaue vp her last breath Shee dead the brother and sister were carefull to performe the mothers last Will and did all things accordingly The first two nights when the Quires of Church-men sung Psalmes about the Bodie the Deuils with much ease broke open the Church doores which were bolted barr'd lockt and propt and broke two of the Chaynes by which the Coffin was fastened but the third remained stedfast The third night about the time when the Cocke begins to crow the foundation of the Temple seemed to shake with the noyse of the Deuils who clamoured at the doore one of the rest taller in stature and more terrible in countenance than his fellowes knocked with more violence than those which attended him till hee had broken the doore to shiuers when stalking to the Coffin he called the woman by her name aloud and bad her arise and follow him to whom the dead bodie answered I cannot for these Chaynes To whom he answered Those shall be loosed to thy mischiefe when tearing them asunder as they had beene Linkes made of Rushes hee snatched vp the Coffin and carried it to the Church doore where stood readie a blacke Sumpter-horse loudly neighing whose hoofes were diuided like Eagles tallons vpon which he layde the bodie hurried it away with seeming ioy whilest all the Quirristers looked on and so vanished Her shrikes and eiulations were heard foure miles off Let this one suffice for many I come now to Temporall Punishments The Iudges called Areopagitae when they deprehended a Witch and were to deliuer her to death if shee were with child stayed the execution till shee were deliuered of her Infanâ— because they would not punish the innocent with the delinquent Aelian de var. Histor. Lib. 5. The Law to punish Witches amongst the Persians was to bring them to a place where their heads were beaten to pieces betwixt two Rockes So suffered Gyge the handmaid to Parisatides the mother of Cyrus Plutarch in Artaxerxes Charles the seuenth king of France or the Frenchmen caused Prince Egidius de Raxa Marshall of France to be first hanged then burnt because hee confessed himselfe to be a Witch and professor of Magicke and withall to haue beene the death of an hundred and twentie children and women great with child A Witch of Auerne was burnt aliue for killing young infants and salting their flesh and putting them into Pyes and baking them for publike sale Fulgos. Lib. 9. cap. 2. Iohaâ—nes Bodinus Lib. Mag. Demonomaniae 4. cap. 5. tells vs That there is a Law sacred in France That if any Magician or Witch or Soothsayer or Mathematician that shall goe beyond the true rules of Astrologie or expounder of Dreames shall frequent the Court be he neuer so great in fauour or potent in office he shall be immediately degraded from all his honours and put to the racke and torture And this Law is fitting saith he to be writ in golden characters vpon euery Court gate because there is no greater Pest extant either to Prince or people than this viperous brood therefore aboue our Christian Princes hee commends the Ethnick kings In the time of Marius an Inchantresse whose name was Martha who pretended to fore-tell to the Roman Senat the successe of the Cimbrian warre was banished Plutarch in Mario Claudius Caesar condemned a knight of Rome to death and forfeited all his goods to the people because he wore about him a Cocks egge as a Charme to dispence with Religionâ— and that all the causes which hee had in controuersie should in despight of the Iudges passe of his side Euen fellowes that were scarce of any name or opinion in the world that were but suspected of Negromancie were condemned to death vnder Tiberius Caesar. The Emperor Caracalla adiudged all such as but vsed inchanted hearbes to the curing of Agues and Feauers Spartian in Caracalla The Scripture saith Thou shalt not suffer a Witch to liue Bodinus contrarie to Wyerius who will scarce beleeue there be any such accounting all those Iudges as condemne them to the Stake or Gallowes no better than Executioners and Hangmen hee shewes diuerse probable Reasons why they ought not to liue The first is Because all Witches renounce God and their Religion now the Law of God saith Whosoeuer shall forsake the God of Heauen and adhere to any other shall be stoned to death which punishment the Hebrewes held to be the greatest could be inflicted R. Maymon Lib. 3. The second thing is That hauing renounced God and their Religion they curse blaspheme and prouoke the Almightie to anger The Law saith Whosoeuer shall blaspheme their sinne shall remaine with them and whosoeuer shall take his name in vaine or in contempt shall be punished with death The third thing is That they plight faith and make couenant with Deuil adore him and sacrifice vnto him as