sons but if none of their issue be leâ—e alive they chuse out of the people the most beautiful and warlike withall whom 〈◊〉 create their Prince and Soveraign Even amongst the 〈◊〉 M. Aâ—relius Commodus so dearly affected his sister that being called by his mother to divide their 〈◊〉 patrimony betwixt them he conferred it wholly upon her contenting himselfe with his grandfathers revenue Pontanus de lib. cap. 11. I will end this discourse concerning sisters with one History out of Sabellious l. â— cap. 7. the same confirmed by â—â—â—gosius lib. 5. cap. 5. Intaphernes was say they one of these confederate Princes who freed the Persian Empire from the usurpâ—tion of the Magician brothers and conferred it upon Darius who now being established in the supreme dignity Intaphernes having some businesse with the King made offer to enter his chamber but being rudely put back by one of his grooms or waiteâ—â— he took it in such scorn that no lesse revenge would satisfie his rage then to cut off his ears and nose of which the King having present notice his indignation exceeded the others rage for he gave commandment That for his insolence and outrage done in she Pallace and so neer his presence that not only Intaphernes the Dâ—linquent but all the male issue of his stock and race whatsoever should be laid hold upon and after to the dread and terror or the like offenders by mercilesse death cast the terror of the Kings incensement The sentence of their apprehension was performed and their execution hourly expected when the wife of Intaphernes cast her selfe groveling before the Court gate with such pitiful ejaculations and clamours that they came even to the ears of Darius and much penetrated him being uttered with such passionate and moving acceâ—ts able to mollifie the Flint or soften Marble Imprest therefore with her pitious lamentations the King sent unto her That her teares and clamours had so far prevailed with him â—hat from the condemned society they had ransomed one and one only to continue the memory of their Name and Family chuse amongst them all whose life she most favoured and whose safety with the greatest affection desired but further then this to grant her his sentence was unalterable None that heard this small yet unexpected favour from the King but presently imagined she would either redeem her husband or at least one of her sons two of them being all she had then groning under the burthen of that heavy sentence But after some small meditation beyond the expectation of all men she demanded the life of her brother The King somewhat amazed at her choice sent for her and demanded the reason Why she had preferred the life of a brother before the safety of such a noble husband or such hopeful children To whom she answered Behold O King I am yet but young and in my best of years and I may live to have another husband and so consequently by him more children But my father and mother are both aged and stricken in years and should I lose a Brother I should for evermore be deprived of that sacred Name At which words the King exceedingly moved to see with what a fraternall zeal they were spoken he not only released her brother but added to his unexpected bounty the life of her eldest son Of Matrimony or Conjugall Love IT was inserted in Plato's Lawes That what man soever lived a Batchelor above five and thirty years of age was neither capable of Honour of Office Alexand. ab Alex. lib 4. cap. 8. Licurgus the Lawgiver amongst the Lacedemonians as the same Author testifies to shew the necessity of marriage made a Decree That all such as affected singlenesse and solitude of life should be held ignominious They were not admitted to publike Plaies but in the winter were compelled to passe through the Market-place naked and without garments The Law of the Spartans set a fine upon his head best that married not at all next on him that married not till he was old and lastly on him they set the greatest mulct that married an evill wife or from a strange Tribe Stobae Sermon 65. Fuigosius cals the Judgements Cacogamia and Opsigamia lib 2. cap. 1. So laudable and reverent was Marriage amongst the Lacedemonians procreation of Children and fertility of issue That whosoever was the father of three children should be free from Watch or Ward by day or night and whosoever had four or upward were rewarded with all Immunities and Liberty This Law was confirmed by Q. Metellus Numidicus Censor after approved by Julius Caesar and lastly established by Augustus Memorable are the words of Metellus in a publike Oration to the people If we could possibly be without wives O Romans saith he we might all of us be free from molestation and trouble but since Nature excites us and necessity compels us to this exigent That we can neither live with them without inconvenience nor without them at all more expidient it is therefore that we aim at the generall and lasting profit then at our own private and moment any pleasure â—ruson lib 7. cap. 22. The Athenians the Cretans the Thuâ—â—ans all in their Statutes and Ordinances encouraged Marriage and punished the obstinary of such as took upon them the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and sollitaude either with amercement or disgrace To that purpose was the Law Julia instituted that incited young men in their prime and flourishing age to the marriage of wives propagation of issue and education of children and that such should be encouraged by rewards and the opposers thereof to be deterred with punishments Tiberius Caesar deprived one of his Quaestorship because he divorced himselfe from his wife having been but three daies married alledging That he in whom there was such lightnesse could not be profitable for any thing Claudius Caesar caused the Law Papia to be abrogated giving men of threescore years and upwards the free liberty to marry as at those years of ability to have issue Theodoretus lib. 1. cap. 7. and Sozomenus lib. 1. cap. 10. both write that in the Nicene Council when certain of the Bishops would introduce into the Church a new Decree before that time not known namely That all Bishops Prelates Priests Deacons and Spirituall or Religious men should be made uncapable of Marriage as also all such as in the time of their 〈◊〉 before they took the Ministry or any service of the Church upon them should be separated from 〈◊〉 wives of whom they were then possest One Paphnutius Confessor who was likewise Bishop of a City in the upper Thebats stood up and with great fervency opposed the motion yet a man of approved chastity and great austerity of 〈◊〉 who though he were mightily opposed yet at length so far prevailed with the Synod of the Fathers that it was definitively concluded That though the marriage of Priests were â—â—â—dicted and singlenesse of life in joined them yet all such as had wives were dispensed withall till
a City of Cipria others amongst the Argives Aristarchus and Dyoâ—isius Thrax derive him from Athens c. But I may have occasion to speak of him in a larger work intituled The lives of all the Poets Modern and Forreign to which work if it come once againe into my hands I shall refer you concluding him with this short Epitaph An Epitaph upon Homer the Prince of Poets In Colophon some think thee Homer borne Some in faire Smyrna soâ—e in Ius isle Some with thy birth rich Chius would adorn Others say 〈◊〉 a first on thee did smile The Argives lay claim to thee and aver Thou art their Country man Aemus saies no. Strong Salamine saith thou tookest life from her But Athens thou to her thy Muse dost owe As there first breathing Speak how then shall I Determine of thy Country by my skill When Oracles would never I will try And Homer well thou give me leave I will The spatious Earth then for Country chuse No mortall for thy mother but a Muse 〈◊〉 the sister of Nereus the Sea-god was by him stupratedâ— of whom he begot the Nymphs called Nercides Ovid in his sixt book Metamorph telleth us of Philomela daughter to Pandion King of Athens who was forced by Tereus King of Thrace the son of Mars and the Nymph Bâ—stonides though he had before married her own dear and naturall sister Progne the lamentable effects of which incest is by the same Author elegantly and at large described as likewise Beblis the daughter of Miletus and Cyane who after she had sought the embraces of her brother Caumus slew her selfe Mirrha daughter to Cyniras King of the Cyprians lay with her father and by him had the beautifull child Adonis Europa the mother and Pelopeia the daughter were both corrupted by Thyestes Hypermestra injoied the company of her brother for whom she had long languished Menephron most barborously frequented the bed of his mother against whom Ovid in his Metamorph. and Quintianus in his Cleopol bitterly inveigh Domitius Calderinus puts us in mind of the Concubine of Amintor who was injoied by his son Phaenix Rhodope the daughter of Hemon was married to her father which the gods willing to punish they were as the Poets feign changed into the mountains which still bear their names Caeleus reports of one Policaste the mother of Perdix a hunts-man who was by him incestuously loved and after injoied Lucan in his eight book affirms that Cleopatra was polluted by her own brother with whom she communicated her selfe as to a husband Nictimine was comprest by her father Nictus King of Aethiopia Martial in his twelfe book writing to Fabulla accuseth one Themison of incest with his sister Plin. lib. 28. cap. 2. speaks of two of the Vestals Thusia and Copronda both convicted of incest the one buried alive the other strangled Publius Claudius was accused by M. Cicero of incest with his three sisters Sextus Aurelius writes that Agrippina the daughter of Germanicus had two children by her brother Claudius Caesar Cornalius Tacitus saith that she often communicated her body with her own son Nero in his cups and heat of wine he after commanded her womb to be ripped up that he might see the place where he had laien so long before his birth and most deservedly was it inflicted upon the brutish mother though unnaturally imposed by the inhumane son Ansilaena is worthily repoved by Catullus for yielding up her body to the wanton imbraces of her uncle by whom she had children Gidica the wife of Pomonius Laurentius doted on her son Cominus even to incest but by him refused she strangled her selfe The like did Pheora being despised by her son Hippolitus Dosithaeus apud Plutarch speaks of Nugeria the wife of Hebius who contemned by her son in Law Firmus prosecuted him with such violent and inveterate hate that she first sollicited her own sons to his murder but they abhorring the vilenesse of the fact she watcht him sleeping and so slew him John Maletesta deprehending his wife in the arms of his brother Paulus Maletesta transpierc'd them both with his sword in the incestuous action Clepatra daughter to Dardanus King of the Scythians and wife to Phinaeus was forced by her two sons in law for which fact their father caused their eies to be plucked out Plutarch reports of Atossa that she was doted on by Artaxerxes insomuch as that after he had long kept her as his strumpet against the Laws of Persia and of Greece to both which he violently opposed himself he made her his Queen Curtius writes of one Si simithres a Persian souldier that had two children by his mother Diogenian also speaking of Secundus the Philosopher saith that he unawares to them both committed incest with his mother which after being made known to them she astonied with the horror of the fact immediately slew her selfe and he what with the sorrow for her death and brutishnesse of the deâ—d vowed never after to speak word which he constantly performed to the last minute of his life Manlius in his common places reports from the mouth oâ— D Martin Luther that this accident hapned in Erphâ—rst in Germany There was saith he a maid of an honest family that was servant to a rich widdow who had a son that had many times importuned the girle to lewdnesse insomuch that she had no other way to avoid his continuall suggestions but by acquainting the mother with the dissolute courses of the son The widdow considering with her self which was the best course to childe his libidirous purpose and divert him from that lewd course plotted with the maid to give him a seeming consent and so appoint him a place and time in the night of meeting at which he should have the fruition of what he so long had sued for she her selfe intending to supply the place of her servant to school her son and so prevent any inconvenience that might futurely happen The maid did according to her appointment the son with great joy keeps his houre so did the mother who came thither on purpose to reform her son but he being hot and too forward in the action and she overcome either by the inticements of the devill the weaknesse of her Sex or both gave her selfe up to incestuous prostitution the young man knowing no otherwise but that he had enjoied the maid Of this wicked and abominable congression a woman child was begot of whom the mother to save her reputation was secretly delivered and put it out privately to nurse but at the age of seven years took it home When the child grew to years the most infortunate sonne fell in love with his sister and daughter and made her his unhappy wife what shall I think of this detestable sinne which even beasts themselves abhor of which I will give you present instance Aristotle in his history Animal who was a diligent searcher into all naturall things affirms that a Camel being bliâ—ded
The fast two under the Messias awe And as repose by Sabbath is exprest Sun Moon and Stars all things shall then have rest It is likely and may be conjectured that she came to the light of Elias prophesies for in the like manner he distributed the world divining of the continuance of mankind and the change of times the first two thousand yeares he call Tempus inane which may be thus interpreted because the many regions of the earth were not fully inhabited Babylon not yet built and divers spatious Provinces undiscover'd or else because the politick estate of the Church was not yet visibly established and separated from other nations For then were no Empires extant which after were apparant in the Monarchies Yet doubtlesse it is that the first age was the golden and most flourishing because the nature of man was then most potent and vigorous as may appeare by their longevity living so many hundred years moreover it bred many wise old men full of the divine light that spake of God of the Creation and were witnesse of the Arts and Sciences The second time was numbred from the Circumcision to Christs comming in the flesh and being born of a Virgin which conteins little lesse than two thousand years and that is under the Law The third time if it reach not to the full number to equall the former it is for our sins which are many and great for which mankind shall be the sooner destroi'd and Christ for his elect sake will hasten his judgement Sybilla Cumana SHe was likewise called Amalthaea Hyginus in his second book speaks of Amalthaea that gave suck to Jupiter in his infancy his history he derives from Parmenesius and relates it thus There was a certaine King of Creet called Mellisaeus to whose daughters young Jupiter was sent to be nursed but they wanting milk brought unto him a goat called by that name which gave him suck This goat was so fruitfull that she ever brought forth two Kids and was then newly eased of her burden when Jupiter was brought thither to be fostred In gratitude of which good done to him he after translated her and her kids amongst the stars which Cleostratus Tenedius first observed Musaeus reports otherwise That Athemides and Amalthaea were two nurses to whom the charge of Jupiters infancy was committed both beautifull Nymphs Amalthaea having a goat whom she much loved and with whose milk she brought him up Palepbatus in his fabulous narrations speaks of the horn of Amalthaea which Hercules still bore about him which was of that vertue that it still supplyed him with all necessaries whatsoever from which grew a Proverb That all such as were supplyed without complaining of want were said to have the 〈◊〉 of Amalthaea the history is thus Hercules travelling through Boeotia to visit his Nephew Iolaus sojourned by the way for a season amongst the Thespians where lived a woman of approved beauty and vertue called Amalthaea with whose feature Hercules being much delighted he hosted there longer than his purpose which Iolaus taking ill Amalthaea out of a horn in which she had hoarded some quantity of monie furnisht Hercules with all things needfull which some strangers taking especiall notice of they rumour'd it abroad and from thence first grew the Proverb But to return to our Amalthaea Cumana This was she by whose conduct Aeneas had free passage into hell as Virgil expresseth at large in his sixth book She brought to Tarquinius Priscus those three books of Prophesies of which two were burnt and one preserved By which computation comparing the time betwixt Aeneas and Tarquin she could live no lesse then five hundred years nor is it altogether incredible since when Livia the daughter of Rutilius Terentia of M. Cicero and Clodia of Aulus the first lived ninety seven yeares the second a hundred and thirty the third a hundred and fifteen after the bearing of fifteen children Gorgias Leontius the tutor of Isocrates and many other learned men in the hundred and seventh year of his age being asked Why he desired to live any longer answered Because he felt nothing in his body by which to accuse age Herodotus Pliny Cicero and others speak of one Arganthonius Gaditanus who raigned fourscore yeares being sixty yeares of age before he came to his crown Solinus and Ctesias with others averre that amongst the Aethiopians a hundred and thirty years is but a common age and many arrive unto it Hellanicus testates that the Epians a people of Aetolia attained to two hundred whom Damiales exceeds naming one Littorius that reached to three hundred the like we read of Nestor I will conclude with Dondones whom Pliny affirms survived five hundred years yet never stooped with age More liberally speaks Zenophon who bestowes on one of the Latine Kings eight hundred and six hundred upon his father but I will forbear further to speak of her age and come to her Oracle Vnto the Assyrian Monarchy we assigne One thousand yeares two hundred thirty nine When thirty six successions shall expire The last his glories pomp shall end in â—iâ—e Thence to the Meads it transmigrates and they Shall in nine full successions beare chiefe sway Three hundred years shall memorise their deeds Wanting just eight The Persian then succeeds In th' universall Empire which must last Fourteen Kings reigns and then their sway be past Over to Greece but ere the light blow out Two hundred fifty years shall come about Adding five months The Monarchy now stands Transferr'd on Macedonia who commands The world but Alexander by him is guided The spatious earth but in his death divided Amongst his Captains Macedon one ceaseth Asia another Syria best pleaseth A third Egypt a fourth thus lots are cast Two hundred eighty eight their pomp shall last And then expire Great Rome shall then look hie Whose proud towers from 7. hils shall brave the skie And overlook the world In those blest daies Shall come a King of Kings and he shall raise A new plantation and though greater far Than all the Monarchs that before him are In majesty and power yet in that day So meek and humble he shall dain to pay Tribute to Caesar yet thrive happy he That shall his subject or his servant be After the death of Alexander the Kingdome of Macedonia was successively injoied by fifteen Kings and indured a hundred fifty seven years and eight months Asia and Syria were governed by nineteen Kings and lasted two hundred eighty nine years Egypt was possest by ten Ptolomies and lastly by Cleopatra and it continued two hundred eighty eight years These Kingdomes failing the Romans gained the chiefe predominance Of this Sybill S. Isiodore Virgil and Ovid writ more at large she writ her Prophesie in leaves of trees and then plac'd them over the Altar which when the wind moved or made to shake they had no efficacy but when they remained firm and without motion they received their
rest Three Principles God World and Creature fram'd Creator Parent Issue these are nam'd In all production Into Three we cast Mans age two legs next three then foure at last Physitians three things to observe are sure First to preserve prevent and then to cure Three governments are famous in Romes state That of the Tribunes and Triumvirate Three sorts of people they distinguish can The Senate Souldier and the common Man In the taking height of stars w' observe these Three First Distance then the Form next Quality But which of us observes that sacred Trine Three persons in one Godhead sole divine That individuall essence who dares scan Which is shall be and ere the world began Was in eternity When of these Three One of that most inscrutable Trinity The second person Wisedome shall intombe All majesty within a Virgins wombe True Man true God still to that blest Trine linckt True light shall shine and false stars be extinct Sybilla Erythraea SHe is the twelfth and last born in Babylon of the Assyâ—ian nation and daughter to Berosus a famous Astrologian She writ in Greek a book called Vasillogra which some interpret Penalis Scriptura which as Eugenius in his Res de Sicilia testates was transferred into Latin She prophesied of all the Greeks that came to the siege of Troy designed the places whence and how long they should continue there In those books she spake of Homer and that he should write of those wars partially according to his affection and not truth In the same volume she prophesied of Christ after this manner The times by the great Oracle assign'd When God himselfe in pitie of mankind Shall from the Heav'n descend and be incarnate Entring the world a lamb immaculate And as himselfe in wisedome thinks it meet Walke in the earth on three and thirty feet And witâ— six fingers all his subjects then Though a King mighty shall be fisher men In number twelve with these war shall be tride Against the devill world and flesh their pride Humility shall quell and the sharp sword With which they fight shall be the sacred Word Establisht upon Peter which foundation Once laid shall be divulg'd to every Nation The onely difficulty in this prophesie is Trenta tre piede which signifies thirty three year sand Mese dito six fingers intimating the time of six months And thus I take leave of the Sybils Of the Virgins Vestals FEnestella in his book entituled de Sacerdotiis Romanis proposeth Numa Pompilius to be the first that devised the form of this Vestall adoration though the first institution thereof was held to be so ancient that Aeneas transferred it â—rom the Trojans to the Albans as Virgil. witnesseth in these words Vestamque potentem Aeternumque aditis adsert penetralibus ignem To this goddesse Vesta whom some call the earth others the Mother of the gods Fire perpetually burning was consecrated and to this observation and custome certaine Virgins pickt out of the noblest families were chosen as directors and chiefe overseers of that Order by whose negligence if by chance at any time that sacred fire was extinguished their judgement was to be beaten to death with strokes by the hand of the chiefe Priest or Flamin Valerius Maximus reports that the same judgement was executed upon the same negligence by P. Licinius Crassus then in the high Priesthood All such as were found guilty of incest were condemned to be buried alive nor was it lawfull as Labeo Antistius writes for any under six years or above ten to be admitted into that service besides she must not be the only child of her father and mother neither must she have a lisping or stammering tongue be deaf of her eares nor marked with any blemish about her body neither such an one whose parents one or both have lived in servitude or have been conversant in any base offices neither such a one whose sister hath been elected into the Priesthood all these are excused from the service of Vesta neither she whose father is a Flamin a South-saier or one of the Decemviri in the sacrifices or of the Septemvirate in the banquets There is likewise a dispensation with the daughters of Kings and Priests as uncapable of this ministery neither can that mans child be admitted that hath not a known house and an abiding place in Italy for so Capito Atteius writes so likewise the children of all such as are restrained as have the number of Three or more By the edict of the Praetor that no Virgin Vestall or Dialis which belongs to the sacrifices of Jupiter shall be compelled to any thing these be the words of the Praetor by the mouth of the crier Through all my jurisdiction I will not urge or force an oath from the Vestall Virgins nor from the Flamin Dialis in the chusing of the Vestall these things were observed There is a caution by the law called Lex Papia That by the approbation of the chiefe Priest and by his speciall appointment twenty virgins were selected out of the people but this ordinance with many other were abrogated and abolisht by Time insomuch that it was sufficient if any of free parents and honestly descended petitioned or made means to the high Priest she might without more difficulty enter her oath and be admitted into the sacred order being received by him as one snatcht and taken violently from the hands of her enemies The words he used were these This vestall Priest whom I enter into this holy office according to the institution of the best law I receive by the name of Amata to make her intercessions for the Nobility and people of Rome It was a custome to admit them all by the name of Amata because she that was first chosen by King Numa was so called and with these Ceremonies she was as it were hurried to the Temple of Vesta In Labeons commentaries it is thus found recorded The Vestall virgin is incapable to be made heire of any man or woman that dies intestate her goods likewise after her death return to the common treasury Pomponius Laetus in his book de Sacerdotiis agrees with Fenestella That Aenâ—as first brought the Vestall fire from Troy into Italy and Lavinium being built he there erected a Temple to her honour After this Ascanius consecrated another in a part of the hill Alba beneath which or at the foot thereof was a thick grove in which Mars vitiated Illia the mother of Romulus These Ministers of Vesta were tied to an oath of perpetuall viginity for it was a custome among the Latines to make choice of the most noble and chast virgins After many years Romulus devised all the chast ceremonies belonging to that Order and as Varro declares to us created threescore Priests to those publick services selected by their Tribes and Families but of the most noble and unblemisht stocks amongst the Romans The Temple of Vesta is built round and is betwixt the Capitol and the Palace in
having learned certaing problems and aenigmas of the muses disposed her selfe in the mountaine Phycaeus The riddle that she proposed to the Thebans was this What creature is that which hath one distinguishable voice that first walkes upon four next two and lastly upon three feet and the more legs it hath is the lesse able to walk The strict conditions of this monster were these that so often as he demanded the solution of this question till it was punctually resolved he had power to chuse out any of the people where he best liked whom he presently devoured but they had this comfort from the Oracle That this Aenigma should be no sooner opened and reconciled with truth but they should be freed from this misery and the monster himselfe should be destroied The last that was devoured was Aemon son to King Creon who fearing lest the like sad fate might extend it selfe to the rest of his issue caused proclamation to be made That whosoever could expound this riddle should marry Jocasta the wife of the dead King Laius and be peaceably invested in the Kingdome this no sooner came to the ears of Oedipus but he undertook it and resolved it thus This creature saith he is man who of all other hath only a distinct voice he is born four footed as in his infancy crawling upon his feet and hands who growing stronger erects himselfe and walkes upon two only but growing decrepit and old he is fitly said to move upon three as using the help of his staffe This solution was no sooner published but Sphinx cast herselfe headlong from the top of that high Promontory and so perished and Oedipus by marrying the Queen was with a generall suffrage instated in the Kingdome He begot of her â—wo sons and two daughters Eâ—eocles and Polâ—nâ—ces Ismâ—ne and Antigone though some write that Oedipus had these children by Rurigenia the daughter of Hyperphantes These former circumstances after some years no sooner came to light but Jocasta in despair strangled her selfe Oedipus having torn out his eies was by the people expulsed Thebes cursing at his departure his children for suffering him to undergo that injury his daughter Antigone lead him as far as to Colonus a place in Attica where there is a grove celebrated to the Eumenides and there remained till he was removed thence by Theseus and soon after died And these are the best fruits that can grow from so abominable a root Of the miserable end of his incestuous issue he that would be further satisfied let him read Sophocles Apollodorus and others Oâ— him Tyresias thus prophesied Neque hic laetabitur Calibus eventis suis nam factus c. No comfort in his fortunes he shall find He now sees clearly must at length be blind And beg that 's now a rich man who shall stray Through forrein Countries for his doubtfull way Still gripping with his staffe The brother he And father of his children both shall be His mothers son and husband first strike dead His father and adulterate next his bed Crithaeis SHE was wife to one Phaemius a schoolmaster and mother to Homer Prince of the Greek Poets Ephorus of Coma in a book intiteled the Cumaean Negotiation leaves her story thus related Atelles Maeones and Dius three brothers were born in Cuma Dius being much indebted was forced to remove thence into Ascra a village of Boeotia and there of his wife Pâ—cemedâ— he begot Hesiodus Atelles in his own Country dying a naturall death committed the pupillage of his daughter Crithaeis to his brother Maeones but comming to ripe growth she being by him vitiated and proving with child both fearing the punishment due to such an offence she was conferred upon Phaemius to whom she was soon after married and walking one day out of the City to bath her selfe in the river Miletus she was by the stood side delivered of young Homer and of the name thereof called him Mâ—lesigines But after losing his sight he was called Homer for such of the Cumaeans and Ionians are called Omouroi Aristotle he writes contrary to Ephorus that what time Neleus the son of Codrus was President in Ionia of the Collony there then newly planted a beautifull Virgin of this Nation was forced and deâ—â—oured by one of the Genius's which used â—o dance with the Muses who after remâ—ved to a place called Aegina and meeting with certain forragers and robbers that made sundry incursions into the Country she was by them surprized and brought to Smyrna who presented her to Meonides a companion to the King of the Lydians he at the first sight inamoured of her beauty took her to wife who after sporting her selfe by the banks of Milâ—rus brought forth Homer and instantly expired And since we had occasion to speak of his mother let it not seem altogether impertinent to proceed a little of the son who by reason of his being hurried in his childhood from one place to another and ignorant both of his Country and parents went to the Oracle to be resolved concerning them both as also his future fortunes who returned him this doubtfull answer Foelâ—x miser ad sortemes quia natus utramque Perquiris patrians matris tibi non patris câ—â—tat c. Happy and wretched both must be thy fate That of thy Country dost desire to heare Known is thy 〈◊〉 clime thy father 's not An Island in the sea to Creet not neer Nor yet far â—ss in which thou shalt expire When 〈◊〉 a riddle shalt to thee propose Whose dark Aenigma thou canst not acquire A double Fate thy life hath thou shalt lose Thine eies yet shall thy lofty Muse ascend And in thy death thou life have without end In his later daies he was present at Thebes at their great feast called Saturnalia and from thence comming to Ius and sitting on a stone by the water port there landed some fishermen whom Homer asked what they had taken but they having got nothing that day but for want of other work only lousing themselves thus merily answered him Non capta afferimus fuerant quae capta relictis We bring with us those that we could not find But all that we could catch we lâ—ft behind Meaning that all such vermine as they could catch they cast away but what they could not take they brought along Which riddle when Homer could not unfold it is said that for very griefe he ended his life This unmatchable Poet whom no man regarded in his life yet when his works were better considered of after his death he had that honour that seven famous Cities contended about the place of his birth every one of them appropriating it unto themselves Pindarus the Poet makes question whether he were of Chius or Smyrna Simonides affirms him to be of Chius Antimachus and Nicander of Colophon Aristotle the Philosopher to be of Ius Ephorus the Historiographer that he was of Cuma Some have been of opinion that he was born in Salamine
great congregation complained of the murder of her father capitulating all their insolencies and her own injuries which she did with such feeling words and passionate tears that she not only attracted the eies of every one to behold but moved the hearts of all to pity which perceiving and how the multitude was affected towards her she gave to every of the murderers a particular nomination both of the families from whence they came and the places where they had then their residence The rioters this hearing and finding how the people were animated and incens'd against them they fled to Orchomenus but were not there admitted but excluded from forth the gates from thence they fled to Hippota a small City neer Hellicon scituate betwixt the Thebanes and the Corineans and were there received To them the Thebans sent that these murderers and ravishers might be surrendred up to their justice But being deni'd they with other Booetians made an expedition against them of which forces Phaedus then Pretor amongst the Tâ—ebans was made Captain the City Hippota was bravely besieged and assaulted so likewise as resolutely defended but number prevailing they were compelled to yield themselves with their City The murderers now surprized they were condemned to be stoned to death and had the execution of their judgement the rest of the Hippotenses were brought under bondage and made slaves their wals and houses demolished to the earth their fields and possessions being equally distributed betwixt the Thebans and the Corineans It is said that the same night before the surrender of the City that a voice was often heard to call aloud from Helicon Adsum Adsum i. I am here I am here which the thirty suitors affirmed to be the voice of Phocus as likewise the same day of their executions and at the instant when they were stoned saffron was seen to distill out of a monument which was erected in the City Glisantes Phaedus being newly returned from the â—ight a messenger brought him newes of a young daughter that day born whom for omens sake he caused to be called Nicostrate The wives of Cabbas and of Phaiâ—lus A Preposterous thing and almost against nature at least humanity and good manners it is that I read of these two who after the example of Domitian and Commodus those monsters of nature have not only made their strumpets but their own wives either for servile fear or abominable lucre prostitutes to other men This Cabbas a Roman worthy for ever to be branded with base Wittoldrie had a Lady to his wife of incomparable beauty insomuch that all men beholding her apprehended what happinesse he was possessed of above others The report of her rare accomplishments amongst many attracted Mecenas then a great favourite of the Emperor of Augustus to invite himselfe to his house where he was nobly feasted Mecenas being of a corrupt and licentious disposition and much taken with her beauty could not contain himselfe but he must needs be toying with her using action of plain Incontinence in the presence of her husband who perceiving what he went about and the servants it seems for modesty having withdrawn themselvs from forth the chamber the table not yet being taken away Cabbas to give Mecenas the freer liberty casts himselfe upon the bed and counterfeits sleep Whilst this ill-managed businesse was in hand one of the servants listning at the door and hearing no noise but all quiet with soft steps enters the chamber to steal away a flaggon pot that stood full of wine upon the Table Which Cabbas espying casts up his head and thus softly said to him Thou rascall Dost thou not know that I sleep only to Mecenas A basenesse better becomming some Jeaster or Buffoon then the noble name of a Roman In the City of Argis grew a contention betwixt Nicostratus and Phaillus about the management of the Common-weal Philip of Macedon the father of Alexander comming then that way Phaillus having a beautifull young wife one esteemed for the very Paragon of the City and knowing the disposition of the King to be addicted to all voluptuousnesse and that such choice beauties and to be so easily come by could not lightly escape his hands presently apprehends that the prostitution of his wife might be a present Ladder for him to climb to the principality and have the entire government of the City Which Nicostratus suspecting and many times walking before his gates to observe the passage of the house within he might perceive Phaillus fitting his wives feet with rich embroidered Pantoffes jewels about her haire rings on her fingers bracelets about her wrists and carkanets upon her arm in a Macedonian vesture and a covering upon her in the manner of a hat which was onely lawfull for the Kings themselves to wear And in this manner habited like one of the Kings Pages but so disguised that she was scarce known of any he submitted her to the King There are too many in our age that by as base steps would mount to honour I could wish all such to carry the like brand to posterity Chloris was the daughter of Amphion and the wife of Neleus the son of Hyppocoon as fruitfull as beautifull for she brought twelve sonnes to her husband of which ten with their father were slain by Hercules in the expugnation of Pylus the eleventh called Periclemenes was transformed into an Eagle and by that means escaped with life the twelfth was Nestor who was at that time in Ilos He by the benefit of Apollo lived three hundred years for all the daies that were taken from his father and brothers by their untimely death Phoebus conferred upon him and that was the reason of his longevity Aethra the daughter of Pytheus was of that attractive feature that Neptune and Aegeus both lay with her in the Temple of Minerva but Neptune disclaiming her issue bestowed it on Aegeus who leaving her in Troezene and departing for Athens left his sword beneath a huge stone enjoining Aethra That when his son was able to remove the stone and take thence his sword she should then send him to him that by such a token he might acknowledge him his son Theseus was born and comming to years she acquainted him with his fathers imposition who removed the stone and took thence the sword with which he slew all the theeves and robbers that interposed him in his way to Athens Danae the daughter of Acrisius and Aganippe had this fate assigned her by the Oâ—â—cle That the child she bore should be the death of her father Acrisius which he understanding shut her in a bâ—â—zen Tower â—estraining her from the society of men but Jupiter enamoured of her rare feature descended upon her in a shower of Gold of which congression Perseus was begot whom Acrisius caused with his mother to be sent to sea in a mastâ—â—lesse boat which touching upon the Island Seriphus was found by a fisher-man called Dyctis who presents the desolate
the Sardinians whom if they offer to â—ise and arm themselves at the Alarm given we will keep still â—ast lock in our arms till what we have left of them being naked you your selfe dispatch being armed This counsell was followed and accordingly took effect In memory of this the Feast called Elutheria i. of Free-women is yearly celebrated in Smyrna in which the maid-servants attired in their mistresses habits sit at the table and are 〈◊〉 on by them whom they attend all the year after 〈…〉 lib 1. Italicorum parallels this history thus 〈◊〉 King of the Gaâ—ls infesting the Romans with war and having compelled them to the like exigent demanded the like horrible conditions of peace namely to adulterate their wives but being in the same manner advised by their handmaids and having intelligence given them by one Retana the chief of that counsell when the Gauls were 〈◊〉 in sleep and lust they set upon them in the night and gave them a brave defeat from whence the Feast of the Hand maids took beginning which is celebrated amongst the Romans even to this day A tale something like unto these I have been told of a Mistresse that in some sort did as much to save her maids honesty but whether to the same commendable purpose of that I am somewhat doubtfull In some great City it was I cannot say London that a Citizen of good reckoning having a fair wife kept divers prentices and maid-servants in his house one of those busie young fellowes had cast a wanton eie upon her that ruled the rost in the Kitchin and longing as much to be in her books as out of his time and waiting many nights for opportunity to find her in some remote place or dark entry it hapned that one night he dogg'd her at the heels she hearing him to tread softly after her to escape him stept up a pair of stairs just as her Mistresse came down The prentice groping in the dark catcht hold upon his Mistresse and without any word speaking began to proportion his work according to the shortnesse of his time The Gentlewoman all this while let him alone to see what he would do and having made proof of him to the full she might very well perceive what his unchast intent was when clinging him close to her lest he should escape undiscovered She asked what bold sawcy knave he was that durst offer her that injury the young fellow knowing her voice and finding his mistake down on his knees and besought her to pardon him and not to tell his Master for he took her for one of the maids The maids saith she which of the maids he answered The Kitchin-maid and is it so saith she well â—irrha I will henceforth prevent the getting of Bastards in my house without knowing who shall father them and for that night said no more but the nâ—xt morning to prevent all future danger pickt a quarrell with the Kitchin-wench paid her her wages and turn'd her away It seems after the young man did well for she made him before his time was fully out both her journeyman and foreman It followes next in course that I should define unto you what these prostitutes and common women are but what need I trouble my selfe so far when in these corrupt daies almost every boy of fifteen or sixteen years old knowes what a strumpet is better by his own practise then I can illustrate to him by all my reading And for Concubines we need not travell so far as the Turks Seraglio since but few Kings Palaces are without them And for such as we call Sweet-hearts Friends or good wenches should we but search noble mens Diaries Gentlemens Summer-lodges or Citizens Gardenâ—houses and travel no further we should no question find plenty sufficient It would also become this place well to perswade those loose and incontinent women with some elaborate exhortation to retire themselves from that abominable and wicked course of life But I am altogether discouraged when I remember the positions of one most notorious in that trade word being brought her as of a strange and unexpected noveltie that one who had been a famous strumpet had retired her selfe from all her lewd courses and was lately turned honest woman â—â—ush saith she tell me that as often as you will I will never beleeve it For once a whore and ever a whore I know it by my selfe Of these Plautus thus speaks in Truculento Merâ—tricem ego item esse reor Mare ut est Strumpets are lâ—ke the sea which doth devour Rivers and brooks and what so else you poure Into his vastnesse neither hath it been Fuller by them nor their great bounty seen So whatsoe'r thou spend'st upon a whore It doth not make her rich but thee still poor Terentius in Helyra saith Nec pol istae metuunt Deos nec hos respicere Deos opinor Thâ—y feare not God and he regards not them I could produce innumerable adages and sayings of wise men both Poets and Historiographers to the like purpose but I desire to be prolix in nothing Petronius Arbiter in his Satyricon hath left remembred that when Panachis a girl of seven years old was brought to the faire youth Gyton to be strumpeted one wondring that so young a thing was capable of prostitution to him Quartilla the bawd thus answered Minor est illa quam ego fui â—um primum virum possa sum i Is she lesse then I was when I lost my Virginity and thus proceeded Mâ—y Juno ever be displeased with me if I can remember since I was first a maid for being an infant I commixt my selfe and had congresse with little ones like my selfe and as I grew in years so I pickt out children of equall age even till I came unto this burden that you now see and hereupon saith she I think came the Proverb Such may easily be brought to carry an Ox that practâ—sed at first to carry a Calfe I think the name of Quartilla was given her because she began to practise at four years and held on to fourscore From common Strumpets I should proceed to private mistresses I will begin and end with them in this Sonnet A Sonnet Though my Mistresse seem in show Whiter then the Pyrene Snow Though I fitly might compare her To the Lillies or things rarer Christall or to ice congeald Be others given and kept from me What care I how fair she be Though her visage did comprise The glorious wonder of all eies Captive led she hearts in chains Kill'd or cur'd with her disdains Chus'd Beauty that commandeth fate Her forehead where to keep her state Should another step in place I care not I 'd not love that face Imagine next her brain divine Or mansion for the Muses nine Did her bosome yield choice places For the Charites and Graces Had she stately Junos stile Pallas front or Venus smile If he enjoy her and not I For these vertues what care I. Traâ—â—d
like businesse intended Aeromanteia is a superstitious prediction by the aire but most certain when the wind is South Another was made from Meal or Chaste and was called Alphitomanteia or Aleuromanteia remembred by Iamblicus but to what purpose it was he explaineth not as Likewise of Lythomantea which was practised by Stones Divinition by Lawrell was called Daphnomanteia The praescience which they gathered from the head of an Asse Kephalcomanteia Puromanteia and Kapnomantesia were conjectures from fire Rabdomanteia was used by a Physitian of Tholosâ— in speaking of certain mysticall words in a low and submisse voice The like unto that was Zulomanteia with loose chips of wood much practised in Illyria But of all these devilish and detestable practises there is none saith Bodinus more Heathenish irreligious and dangerous then that so commonly in use now adaies and by witches continually practised to the injury and wrong of new married women it is commonly called Ligare ligulam or to tie knots upon a point which as it is usuall so it is not new for Herodot lib. 2 reports That Amasis King of Aegypt was by the like Exorcisme bound and hindred from having any mutuall congresse with his with Laodice till those ligatory spels were after uncharmed Paulus Aemilius in the life of Clotharus the secoâ—d witnesseth That King Theodoricus was by the like ligaments â—â—â—ascinated by his Concubines from having lawful consociety wich his wife Hermamberga Bodinus reports That he heard from the mouth of Roileius Embassadour generâ—ll amongst the Blasenses who affirmed That it the marriage of a young couple just as they were ready to receive the benediction from the Priest a boy was seen by him tying one of these Magick knots in the Temple whom thinking to have deprehended the boy fled and was not taken Bodinus further adds That in the year 1567. he then being Procurator in Patavia the Gentlewoman in whose house he sojourned being it seems a pregnant scholer in this Art related unto him in the presence of one Jacobus Baunasius That there were fifty severall waies of tying this knot to hinder copulation either to bind the Husband or the Wife only that one hating the others infirmity might the freelier pollute themselves with Adulteries She said moreover the man was often so charmed the woman seldom and difficulty besides this knot might be tied for a day for a year for the present time or for ever or whilst the same was unloosed That it might be tied for one to love the other and not be again beloved or to make a mutuall and ardent love betwixt them but when they came to congression to bite and scratch and tear one another with their teeth and nails In Tholosia a man and his wife were so bewitched who after three years being uncharmed had a fair and hopefull issue and which is more to be wondred at in that time there appeared upon some part of their bodies so many tumors or swellings like small knobs of flesh as they should have had children if that impediment had not hapned Some there are that may be charmed before Wedlock and some after but those hardly There are others whom their effascinations can keep from ejecting their Uâ—ine others to make them that they cannot restâ—ain it all but of the first divers have perished She likewise told him sundry speeches belonging these Witcherie the words whereof were neither Hebrew Greek Latine French Spanish Italian nor indeed deriving their Ecymology from any known Language whatsoever Erasmus in the explanation of the Adage Pasâ—tis Semiobutus writes of some Witches that by their incantations could command in any void room Tables on the sudden to be spread and furnished with meats and juâ—kets of all varieties to tast the palat and when the guests had sufficiently â—ed and satisfied every man his own appetite with one word could likewise command all things away as if no such thing had been others also that when they had bought any commodity of any man their backs were no sooner turned but the mouâ—e they laid out would instantly forsake the seller and return into the purse of the buyer But to begin with the ancient Poets by their testimonies it is manifest that the practise of Witches and Witch-craft hath been it great that by their Charms and Spels they have had the power to transhape men into bruit beasts to alter the course of the Planets and Stars have changed the Seasons making the natural course of the yeer preposterous further that their exorcismes have extended to Herbs Flowers Fruits and Grain to infect men with Diseases and cattel with Murren to delude the Eies and weaken the Sences bewitch the Limbs bind the Hands gyve the Feet and benumb the other Members apoplex all the vitall Spirits and raise up dead bodies from their Sepulchers nay more to call the Moon down from her Sphere with other most strange things as miraculous to relate as difficult to beleeve of such in his first book Tibullus speaks Hanc ego de Coelo ducentem sidera vidi This Wâ—ich I did espie To call the Stars and Planets from the skie Now that women have been more addicted to this devilish Art then men is manifest by the approbation of many grave Authors Diodorus in his fiâ—t book de Antiquorum Gestis Speaks of Hecate that she was the first that ever tempered Acomtum a venomous Herb which some call Libbards bane others Wolve bane applying her selfe to confections of sundry deadly poisons This was frequent among the Romans nay even among the noblest matrons as their own writers testifie Of the like Saint Austin speaks in his book de Civitate Dei so Pliny affirms in his five and twentieth book and second chapter That women are most prone to these unlawful Arts for so we read of Medea Cyrce and others whom the Poets fabled to be goddesses of whom we shall find occasion to speak of in their order Suidas of women Witches cites an old proverb Thessala Mulier by which he notes all of that practise as peculiar to that Sex not to men Therefore Quintilian speking of this argument thus determines it Theft saith he is much prevailing with men and Witchcraft most familiar with the Sex of women Of Cyrce and others remembred by the Poets SHe was the daughter of the Sun and the Nymph Persa and was said to be so exquisitely cunning in these effascinations that she changed men into severall shapes of beasts and the companions and associates of Vlysses into Swine She inhabited not far from Caieta a City of Campania The Marsians a people of Italy were said to be lineally descended from this Cyrce who likewise succeeded her in that devilish Art Gellius writes of this Nation That they had skill in taming the most poisonous Serpents and to make them gentle and servile to their use their Charms Exorcisms and Incantations by which they had power in the transhapes of creatures their mixture of herbs and tempering of drugs
these late passages hapned I must remember you that instantly upon the preferment of this young woman the Gentleman that brought her this fortune adventured all his means upon a voiage which miscarried for the ship wherein he sailed was taken by the Spaniard and he almost a twelve month kept prisoner in Lisbon But at length by what means I know not being ransomed he came for his Country but so poorly and dejected that he was ashamed to shew himselfe to any of his friends for having tried some and finding their charity cold he was loath to make proof of the rest insomuch that he walked by Owl light wâ—thout a Cloke and scarce had honest rags to cover his nakedness or hide him from shame It hapned that just upon his return the old Gentleman died too and left her possessed of eight hundred a yeer during the minory of the children but the thirds howsoever and withall to great and good opinion he had of her that he made her full Executor Now just as she followed the Heâ—se to the Church having divers suitors before her husbands body was scarce cold this Gentleman by chance comming by like the Picture of the Prodigall as I before related him to you she casting her eie aside had espied him and presently apprehended him to be the man he was and whispering a servant in the ear willing to be truly satisfied â—ad him to fall into discourse with him to enquiâ—â— his name his Lodging with othâ—r questions as she directed him and so proceeded to the Funerall but to speak nothing as from her The servant fel from the train and did as he was commanded and without suspicion of him that was questioned brought her true word how all things stood The next morning by her appointment came a Gentleman very early to his lodging she having taught him his Lesson before hand who desired to speak with him and first asked him his name which though loth he told him the other proceeded that if he were the same man he pretended he had heard of his worth and noble quâ—lities and withall of his casualties at sea and not willing that any Gentleman should grone beneath so great a burden told him there was a hundred pounds bad him furnish himself with apparell and other necessaries and so was ready to take his leave The other extasi'd with so great a courtesie from a stranger whom he had not seen before enforced him back to know what reason he had to be so charitable entreating him to consider what hope he had to be so charitable entreating him to consider what hope he had of future satisfaction or at least to resolve him what security he demanded The other answered That for the first his courtesie was grounded upon his worth his satisfaction was in his acknowledgement and his security in that he knew him honest and told him some three daies after he would call upon him when he was habited like himselfe to entreat his further acquaintance and so presently left him But troubled in his mind above wonder to receive such bounty from a man unknown when all his kindred and familiar friends were ashamed of his acquaintance yet took the benefit of the present occasion and suited himselfe according to his former not his present fortunes When the Gentlemâ—n came according to promise he seemed glad 〈…〉 alteration and withall entreated him to walk 〈…〉 with him to dinner he who could not deny him any 〈◊〉 seemed willingly to assent not once demanding whither In the mean time the late widow had provided a great Feast whither she had envited all her suit as who were not few this Gentleman whom she had emploied and knew no further of her mind being one of the chiefest â—â—eat was upon the Table the guests ready to sit down now the last that came in were the two new friends late remembred In comes the widow to bid them all welcome This new made up Gentleman ignorant of whatsoever had before hapned demanded of his friend If it were not such a woman who briefly told him all How she came a stranger to the house and what a fortune by her good demeanor she had in a short time purchased That she was now a widow had such and such means left and all or most of those Gentlemen and himselfe amongst the rest were suitors and that their hope was this day she would make choise of a husband Whatsoever he thought he said nothing for the present The widowes turn was to place every man according to his degree or at least to our own fancy this new Gentleman was neglected and the stools being furnishâ— left standing at a bay window She took place at the tables end only leaving her husbands chair empty when suddenly starting up Methinks saith she some one in this room might be well spared for we have more guests then stools The Gentleman at these words bit his lip and was intreated to sit down by his friends but whilst they were straining courtesie she proceeded Is this a suitor too no question some that either hath borrowed his cloths or ingaged all his credit for this one new suit in hope to gaiâ— the widow but women are now adaies grown more wise By whose acquaintaâ—ce came he hither Mine answered his friend then saith she perhaps he wants a dinner and hath not mony to pay for his ordinary Well he may sit down amongst the test some of you there make him some elbow 〈◊〉 These words made him wish himselfe again prisoner in Lisbon 〈◊〉 any where save where he was This was 〈◊〉 to the rest but torture to him who much blaming her 〈…〉 yet arming him with 〈…〉 his 〈…〉 who brought him 〈…〉 eating as little a 〈…〉 the Table some 〈…〉 to please her A health went 〈…〉 All pledged it gladly 〈…〉 At length rising from her stool Methinks saith she we are all 〈…〉 only 〈◊〉 at Gentlâ—man at the lower end of the Table is melancholy but I kâ—ow the reason it is perhaps because he is placed so low but 〈…〉 his disease I have for it a present remedy when 〈◊〉 to him where he sate the pluckt him by the sleeve desiâ—ing him to remove for she had â—â—â—ther place for him Who desiring her to 〈◊〉 him to further refused to rise but she would needs enforce him the rest likewise perswading as wondring what further spâ—â—â— she would make with him Well saith â—e I am this day yours but will be mine own ever hereafter And so being drawn by her to the upper end of the chamber like a Bear to the â—â—ake where her late husbands châ—ir stood empty Now Sir saith she with a more serious countenance 〈◊〉 before my new husband sit here in my old husbands chair and bid these your guests welcome Stil he frâ—â—â—d and they laught as before when she craving pardon 〈◊〉 so abusiâ—g his patience openly protested That this meeting was meerly for his sake and to make them witnesses of their