and his false fire spends Diana and Phoebus were therefore said to be the children of Latona because in that the ancient Poets would signifie the beginning of the world so when the matter whereof it was made was a meer confused Masse and without shape because all things were obscure and hid that darknesse is signified in Latona and whereas they make Iupiter their Father it imperts as much as if they should fetch Iupiter out of this darknesse called the Sun and the Moon More plainly the Spirit of the Lord said Let there be light of which light Apâ—â—llo and Diana the one by day and the other by night are the greatest by this inferring that the generation of the world began first from Light Ceres THE Goddesse of fruits and grain and daughter to Saturn and Ops a Law-giver to the Sicilians therefore by Virgil called Segifera In Eleusis a City of Artica she had divine worship because she there taught plantation and agriculture and of that place had the name of â—lusina she was honoured in the mount Aetna in Aeona and Catana two Cities of Cicily From whence as Claudian â—â—lates she had the name of Aetnaea Aennaea and Catanensis the like doth Selius c. Lactantius reports that into these her Temples erected in these Cities it was not lawfull â—o any man to enter The manner of the rights among the Philagenses were that no sacrifices should be slain only the fruits of planted trees Honycombs and new shorn wool were laid upon the Altar and sprinkled with sweet oile and were set a fire burnt and offered these Customes were privately and publickly observed yearly as Pausanias left recorded The Argives sacrifice to this goddesse by the name of Ceres Clithonia upon certain set daies in the Summer after this manner Their sacrificial pomp is attended by the chiefe Magistrats of the City after which company the women and children next followed the boies all in white robes with chaplers about their browes of Hyacinthes interwoven and in the lag end of the same troop were driven a certain number of faire and goodly Oxen but bound in the strict bands and drag'd towards the Temple being thither come one of these beasts with his cords loosed was driven in the rest of the people standing without the gates and looking on who no sooner see him entred but shut the gates upon him within the Temple are four old women Priests with hatches and knives by whom he is slain and one of them hath by lot the office to cut off the head of the sacrifice This done the doors are againe set open and the rest one by one forc'd in and so in order by the same women slain and offered In a book of the scituation of Sicily composed by Cl. Marius Aretius a Patritian and of Syracula Intituled Charographia Siciliae In the City Aenna saith he as Strabo consenting with him were born Ceres and her daughter Libera whom some call Proscrpina From which place she was rapt and therefore is this City to her sacred Neer to this City is a river of an infinite depth whose mouth lieth towards the North from whence it is said Dis or Pluto with his chariot made ascent and hurrying the virgin thence to have penetrated the earth againe not far from Syracusa This is that most ancient Ceres whom not Sicilia only but all other nations whatsoever celebrated Most certain it is that she was Queen of the Sicilians and gave them lawes taught them the use of â—illage and husbandry and that her daughter Libera was transported thither by Oâ—cus or Dis King of the Molossians In her Temple part of which not many years since was standing were two statues of Marble one sacred to her another to Proserpina another of brasse beautifull and faire but wondrous ancient At the entrance into the Church in an open place without were two other faire portraictures one of her another of Triptolemus large and of exquisite workmanship In Ceres right hand was the image of victory most curiously forged This History with many other is with much nimble and dextrous with fabulated by Ovid to whose Metamorphosis I refer you In Ceres is figured to us an exhortation to all men to be carefull in the manuring and â—illing of the earth since Ceres is taken for the Earth the treasuress of all riches whatsoever and just is that usury and commendable which ariseth from thence for the fertility that growes that way is begot by the temperature of the weather and the industry of mans labours She is therefore said to wander round about the earth and over the spacious Universe because of the obliquity of the sign-bearing circle and the progress of the Sun beneath that by which Summer is in some parts of the world at all seasons of the year and elsewhere when not here Besides from hence this morality may be collected No man unpunished can despise the gods for miseries are the hand-maids of dishonesty therefore of force a wicked and irreligions man is subject and incident to fall into many distresses and casualties therefore Piety towards heaven Wisdome in managing our affairs and Thriâ—â—◠〈◊〉 in the disposing of our private fortunes me all requisite in an honest religious a parsimonious and well disposed man Proserpina THE daughter of Iupiter and Ceres she was honoured in Sicily of which Province she was called Sicula of whom Seneca thus speaks Vâ—disti Siculae regna Proserpinae Hast thou seen the Kingdomes of Sicilian Proserpine She is likewise called by Lucan Ennaea of the City Enna Eloquar 〈◊〉 terrae sub pondere quae te Contineant Ennaea dapes Shall I 〈…〉 discover on what dainties thou seedest Beneath the huge waight of the Massie earth Many fâ—â—les of Proserpina have been introduc'd for our better instruction by the ancient Poets which is onely to express to us the nature of the seeds and plants for Proserpina by whom is signified the Moon shining to us one halfe of the month and lying the other halfe in the arms of her husband Pluto that iâ— being halfe the year in Heaven and the other in Hell six months beneath 〈…〉 and as many above so is it 〈…〉 whose 〈◊〉 for six months space is by 〈…〉 cold forc'd and 〈◊〉 upword 〈…〉 and branches agâ—ine by the extremity of the Winters upper cold it is compulsively driven back downward into the â—oot beneath the earth for so doth nature 〈◊〉 her power and vertue to all creatures and naturall bâ—dies whatsoever that thâ—â— may observe a mutuality if I may tearm it so in their cooperation After the like manner iâ— the day sorted out for our labours and affairs the â—ight for our rest and repose So likewise in explicating the power of Luna or the Moon some call her the daughter of Hâ—perion or the Sun because she being Corpus diaphanes that is a body christallâ—n like reflective glass transfers the light received from her father upon the earth to us for which cause
Cumani there is but one only man and that is Aristodemus These words touching all to the quick it imprest in the minds of the more generous a true feeling of their basenesse and slavery with a shame thereof and withall an apprehension of the recovery of their pristine liberties which perceiving she thus proceeded I had rather to purchase my fathers repeale from exile to play the labourer and bear burdens as you do then live the Tyrant in all the surfetting riots and delicacies on the earth and so left them These last words gave confirmation to what they had before scarce apprehended which after brought the embryons of their thoughts unto a timely and full-born action For with the Prince Timotoles they conspired against Aristodemus and Zenocrita had made their entrance free at such time as he was secure and his guard negligent when with great ease and small danger they rusht upon him and flew him Thus by her means her Country recovered their ancient liberties and honours But when great and magnificent gifts were presented her for this good service she refused them all only making one request unto the people That it might be lawfull for her to take the body of Aristodemus and give it a solemn and roiall buriall to which they did not only with great willingnesse condescend but they instituted her the Priest of Ceres supposing it to be an honour no lesse acceptable to the goddesse then worthily becoming her This Pythes lived in the time of Xerxes who had to wife a Noble and wise Lady whose temperance and humanity shall outlive posterity He in his Countrie finding a Mine of gold from whence he had gathered by the industry of his subjects in insinite masse of treasure which he used with no moderation for all his study industry and imployment both of his subjects and servants were in this Mine either in digging Oâ—e or drawing it up or fining and refining it all other actions 〈◊〉 affairs and businesses quite neglected many having died in the Mine and many ready to perish for want of food by reason the earth lay neglected The women came to make a petitionary complaint to the wife of Pyches who understanding their griefs with faiâ—e language returned them back somewhat pacified though not altogether satisfied yet putting them in good hope that their griefes should shortly be redressed They thus dismist she sent for all the Goldsmiths that were known to be exquisite workmen and requesting them into 〈…〉 place 〈…〉 had â—itted them with 〈◊〉 and all 〈◊〉 necessâ—â—y for the purpose she 〈…〉 and 〈◊〉 all kind of fruits as Apples 〈…〉 and such like with whose â—ast her husband was much 〈◊〉 and to 〈◊〉 them all of gold 〈…〉 Mine with a good stomack as 〈…〉 called to ear His Lady served him in a gold 〈◊〉 but with no meat that could be eaten 〈◊〉 very dish 〈…〉 gold Being at the first 〈◊〉 with 〈…〉 as pleased that art should so imitate 〈◊〉 after being much delighted with the object he demanded meat again and calling for such a dish And such a 〈◊〉 as his appetite was best inclined to 〈…〉 whatsoever was brought to the table caused it to be all gold he â—â—ll growing more hungry and very angry withall she made him this modest and effectuall answer O Sir consider with your selfe of these and such like dishes you have provided for your selfe and your subjects plenty but of other viands no plenty at all we have store of artificiall but the use of naturall things hath utterly forsaken us no man tils plowes sowes or manures the fields plantation or hope to reap from the earth is now forgot only we study things unprofitable and as you see unnecessary to please the eie and not the palate the fancy and not the stomack such indeed as to your subjects bring sorrow but no satisfaction great molestation but no meat at all to suffice the necessities of nature This short but pithy speech took such impression on Pythes that though he would not altogether desist from his Mines yet upon her urgence he only peculiarized to himselfe a fifth part of the people and the rest were imploied in agriculture and tillage planting and such things most usefull for mans sustenance This Pythes after many disasters as rich men are seldome without some or other as the death of his children who all came to violent and unexpected death by the means of Xerxes he fell into a wondrous deep melancholy for he hated life and yet was loath to die and like a foolish rich man as this age affords many griefe stil would have killed him had not the thought of his wealth still recovered him therefore he proposed this farewell betwixt the wearinesse of life and the rediousnesse of death There was in the City a great heap of gold by which a river softly glided which was called Pythopolite within the midst of this great magazin he had provided himselfe a Sepulchre and had so turned the channell that the water might come just to the brink of the shore where his monument was ready prepared The work being finished he committed the sole government of the State and Empire to his wife with this charge That none should dare to approach his Tomb but daily send him such a quanty of victuals in a boat by the river and when they found the meat untoucht to forbeare to send any more for they should then imagine him dead And such was the covetous mans end in the middest of his treasure His wife after managed the State with great wisedome and policy and to the generall good of the subject The wife of Nausimenes HErodotus reports of one of the sons of Croesus that he was born dumb and never spake word from his birth being in all things else compleat of an able body and a spirit undanted to supply which defect he used all means possible that art or humane skill could devise but all failing as his last refuge he consulted with the Oracle which returned him this answer Lyde genus Rex multorum c. Thou of the Lydian off spring and the King Of many Nations if such be thy care To know this secret and effect that thing Which divine work no mortall can or dare Be thus resolv'd His tongue shall accent give When save by it thou canst no longer live Croesus being besieged in Sardis and the City taken as first entered by one Mardus Hyreades a Persian that had disguised himselfe of purpose of murder Croesus in his Palace who insinuating into his pâ—esence and now lifting up his hand to strike the fatall blow the King by reason of his present distresse not apprehending the danger which his son comming in at the instant and espying the strings of his tongue were unloosed on the sudden and he cried out Oh man spare the King Croesus and from that time forward his imprisoned voice was ever at liberty More disastrous was that which befell the wife of Nausimenes
narratur toto notissima Coelo Mulciberi capti Marsque Venusque dolis c. This Tale is known to all and spoken still Of Mars and Venus took by Vulcans skill The god of war doth in his brow discover No more a frowning souldier but a lover To his demands what could the Queen oppose Cruel or hard alas she 's none of those How oft the wanton would deride his trade Polt-foot and hard-hand black with Cole-dust made He 's pleas'd to see her imitate his pace â—hat e'r she doth her beauty seems to grace At first their meetings they conceal'd with shame None to their bashfull sins could scarce give name The tel-tale Sun who can deceive his sight Sees and to Vulcan doth of all give light Oh Sun what bad example hast thou lent Ask her a bribe she hath to give content So thou wilt secret be Vulcan down sits And his obscure wires to the place he fits The work so fine that it beguiles the eye About their bed he plac'd them low and high He makes as if to Lemnos he would scoure The Lovers keep appointment just at th' houre And catcht together in his wiery snare Naked and fast bound Mars and Venus are He cals the gods to witnesse they are spi'd Soft hearted Venus scarce her tears can hide Their hands to vaile their cheeks they cannot git Or shadow that which to behold's unfit One of the gods said smiling If they be Tedious good Mars bestow thy bonds on me Scarce at thy prayers Oh Neptune th' are unti'd Mars hasts to Creet to Paphos Venus hi'd What by this gott'st thou Vulcan what they two Before with shame did now they boldly do Their lusts it did encourage not asswage And thou hast since repented of thy rage Of her love to Adonis the incestuous issue of Mirrha and her father Cyniras how he was slain of the boar and how his blood was turned into a purple flower by the power of the goddesse her doating upon Anchises the father of Aâ—neas it might appear superfluous to insist upon Therefore to avoid all prolixity I will briefly come to the mysteries included Because some creatures are born of corruption and others by copulation the Poets by Venus would illustrate what is requisite and convenient to both To those which are bred of corruption the mediocrity of heat and clemency of the heaven is very necessary to their breeding Againe to those that are begot by conjunction male with female most convenient is the temperature of the aire for the matter of generation being of the most subtile part of the blood it acquires a moderate heat which is chiefly helped by the Spring for the temperature of the Spring is called the baud to all procreation and therefore the ancient writers to expresse the matter of the seed and moderation of the air both necessarily to meet in the appetite of generation have fabulated That Venus was born of the generative parts of heaven as also of the Sea For these parts are the mediocrity of heat by motion which is usefull and necessitous in the begetting of all creatures whatsoever Minerva SHE is likewise called Pallas born of the brain of Iupiter she is the goddesse of Wisdome Discipline and Arms and therefore called Bellona and therefore translated into the number of the gods because the invention of arts and sciences are attributed to her The places celebrated to her deity were Ithinas a hill neer to Athens where she had a Temple erected the mountain Pâ—â—eas in Attica in Aracinthus a place in Aetolia from which as Statius writes she was called Aracinthia Pliny saith that Nea one of the Islands called Cyclades was peculiar to her But Athens was her place of most honour which City she is said to have built From thence she hath the name of Athnaea Attica Cecropia and Mosopia Horace Carm. lib. 1. The great City called Alcomeneum scituate in Boeotia hath likewise by the Testament of the first founder submitted it selfe to her patronage Of Scira a Prophet of Elucina she was called Sciras The solemnization of her festivals were called Panathenea There were certaine wrestling contentions which Theseus in Athens first instituted to this goddesse as Plutarch hath delivered She had likewise her Quinquatria yearly celebrated which were kept sacred five daies after the black day and therefore so called the black day was immediately after the Ides In her sacrifices it was their custome to offer a Goat because as Pliny hath left recorded The biting of the Goat is prejudiciall to the Olive tree whose fruit Minerva best loveth the very licking of the rind with their tongues makes it barren She slew the beast Alcida a monster that from his mouth and nostrils breathed fire Aelianus writes that when Alexander brought his army against Thebes amongst many other prodigies that the image of Minerva sirnamed Atalcomineides was burnt by a voluntary flame no fire being neer it At Assessum she had two Temples from that place she was called Minerva Assessia From other places where she was worshipped she took the name of Pallenides and Pedasia Alea from her Temple amongst the Tegeates Tutelaris she was called by the inhabitants of Chios and honoured as an Oracle amongst the Aegyptians she had only a poâ—ch amongst the Scians In some places her statues were covered with gold in others they were of plain stone She had a Temple in Sigeum three others Siâ—adis Aegis and Crastiae she was by some called Minerva Vrbana and Minerva Isliadi Herodotus writeth that when Xerxes transported his army into Greece passing by Troy and being perusing the antiquities thereof and upon his departure thence at the Altar of Minerva he sacrificed a thousand oxen one day Many things are fabled of her by Poets as of her contention in weaving with Arachne which I purposely refer to her story as it fals in course She is the Hieroglyphick of Wisdome and therefore the Poet Martianus writes that she was born without a mother because that in women there is scarce any wisedom to be found in a Hymn upon Pallas he is thus read Hanc de patreferum sine matris saedere natam Provida coâ—silia quod nescit curia matrum Of father therefore without mother born Because learn'd Courts the womens counsell scorn The Maclies and the Auses are two nations that border upon the spacious Fen Tritonides Their virgins in the yearly feast of Minerva in celebrations of their rights to the goddesse divide themselves into two armies and fight one part against the other with stones clubs and other weapons of hostility such as perish in the conflict they hold to be no true and perfect Virgins because not protected by the goddess But she that hath born her selfe the most valiant in the conflict is by common consent of the rest â—â—ichly adorned and beautified with the best armour according to the manner of the Greeks her head beautified with a Corinthian crest or plume and seated in a Charioâ— dâ—awn
killing and much gadding daughter and this lying and false prophesying son of mine offends you namely that they are still in your eie glorious numbered amongst the gods and of them esteemed the most beautifull yet can you not deny but that he is most skilfull in the Voice and the Harp exceeding whatsoever can be upon the earth and equalling if not preceding that of the Sphears in heaven I cannot chuse but smile saith Iuno Is it possible his skill in musick should beget the least admiration when poor Marsias had the Muses not been partial but judged indifferently of his side had gain'd of him priority but he alas by their unjust sentence lost not only his honour in being best but being vanquished he most tyrannously had his skin flead off for his ambition and this your fair Daughter and Virgin is of such absolute feature and beauty that being espi'd naked by Actaeon bathing her selfe in the fountaine she transform'd him into a Hart and caus'd him by his own dogs to be torn in pieces lest the young man should survive to blaze her deformities Besides I see no reason why to women in labour and travell in child-birth she should shew her selfe so carefull and common a mid-wife every where and to all if she were as she still pretends to be a Virgin With her Latona thus concluded You are therefore of this haughty and arrogant spirit because you are the sister and wife of Iupiter and rain with him together which makes you to us your inferiors so contumelious and harsh but I fear I shall see you shortly again weeping when your husband leaving the heavens for the earth in the shape of a Bul an Eagle a golden shower or such like shall pursue his adulterate pleasures Ovid in his sixth book Metamor and his third fable saith That Niobe the daughter of Tantalus born in Sypilera City of Lydia having by Amphion six brave sons and as many daughters though she were forewarned by the daughter of Tyresias to be present with the Thebans at their sacrifice to Latona and her children yet she contemptuously denied it preferring her selfe in power and majesty before the goddesse and her own beautifull issue before the others at which contempt the goddesse much inraged complained to Apollo and Diana in whose revenge he slew all the young men and she the virgins with griefe whereof Amphion slew himselfe and Niobe hurst her heart with sorrow Latona is by interpretation Chaos it was beleeved that all naturall bodies and seeds of things mixt and confused lay buried in darknesse Some take Latona for the earth and therefore Juno did oppose the birth of the Sun and Moon by reason of the frequent fogs and damps arising by which the sight of these two glorious planets are shadowed and kept from our eies for when by the thicknesse and tenebrosity of the clouds the Sun is weakned and made of lesse force oft-times there proceeds a pestilent aire with many pests and diseases prejudiciall both to sensible creatures and to plants but when the Sun resumes his vertue and vigour then by the purifying of the air all these infections are dispersed and scattered unlesse they have proceeded so far as to contagion And so much for Latona Fortuna ANtium a City of the Latines bordering upon the Sea had Fortune in great reverence to whom they erected a magnificent Temple Wherefore Horace thus speaks Oh Divae gratum quae regis Antium So Rhamnus or Rhamnis a Town in Attica where Nemesis and Fortune were held in equall reverence and from hence rather called Ramnusia In Preneste a City of Italy Sortes and 〈◊〉 were held in like adoration of which they were called Praenestine Petrus Crinitus in his first book of honest Discipline and the sixâ— Chapter concerning this goddesse reheaâ—seth these verses from Pacuvius Fortunam insanam esse Brutam perhibent Philosophi Saxique ad instar globosi praedicant esse Volabâ—lem Quia quo saxum Impulerit Fo rs Ea Cadere Fortunam autumant Caeâ—am ob eam rem esse vocant quia nil Cernant quo sese applicet Insanam autem aiunt quia atrox incerta Instabilisque sit Brutans quia dignum aut indignum Nequeat ignoscire Which I thus English The Philosophers tell us that Fortune is both mad and brutish They preach to us that like a round rolling Stone she is voluble Intimating wheresoever chance shall force Fortune shall incline Therefore they make her blind because she can discern nothing to which she can apply her selfe They term her mad because she is cruell without Pity uncertaine and unstable Brutish because she cannot distinguish betwixt what is right and injury Hitherto Pacuvius whose verses M. Cicero commemorates Pliny to Vespasian speaks thus concerning the power of Fortune Through the whole world saith he and in all places at all houres and by all tongues Fortune is still invocated and shâ— alonâ— she is onely nominated shee alone is accused alone made guilty solely thought upon solely commended solely reproved and with her reproches ador'd of many shee is held mutable and blind she is wandering inconstâ—nt incertain diverse and a favourer of the unworthy at her shrine are all things expended to her are all things acceptable offered she altogether swaies guides and directs the reason of men Amongst the Scythians she is painted without feet she had only hands and feathers Amongst the Smyâ—nians with her head she supported Heaven bearing in one of her hands the horn of Amalthea that is of Plenty She is described by Pausanias in the statue of a Buffe or wild Ox but amongst all her figures and attributes let me not forger that of ingenious master Owens the Epigrammatist speaking of Fortune Spem dat pauperibus divitibusque metum She is the poor mans hope and the rich mans feare Livy Dionysius Halicarnasseus Lactantius Plutarch and others affirm that the statue of Fortune which stands in the Latine way with the Temple was dedicated at the same time that Coriolanus by his mothers intercession withdrew his forces from the sack and spoile of Rome Which image was heard to speak these words Rite me matronae vidistis viteque dedicastis So superstitious they were in the daies of old that they attributed all their intents actions and events of things to the guidance and will of Fortune nay that she had a power in their very birth-daies and daies of death as of Euripides the most famous Tragick-Poet he was born on the same day that before Salamine the Greeks and the Meads fought that famous Sea-battel and died upon the birth-day of Dionysius senior the Tyrant of Sicily When as Timaeus saith at one instant Fortune took away the imitator of Tragick calamities and brought in their true actor and performer Ascribed it is to Fortune that Alexander the Conqueror and Diogenes the Cynick should dye both on a day and that King Attalus left the world the same day of the year that he entered into
is said to be Incertae patriae as no man knowing from what particular region to derive her and therefore is known by no particular name nor by the ancient Historiographers numbred amongst the ten only amongst the twelve she hath the place as may appeare by this her Prophesie When the great King of all the world shall have No place on Earth by which he can be known When he that comes all mortall men to save Shall find his own life by the world o'rthrown When the most just injustice shall deprave And the great judge be judged by his own Death when to death a death by death hath given Then shall be op'd the long shut gates of Heaven Sybilla Tiburlina IT seems she derives her selfe from the River Tyber she is otherwise called Albunaea of the City Alba which was erected before Rome as also Italica and by some Alburnaea It is reported that the Romans going about to deifie Augustus Caesar demanded advise of this Sybill who after three daies fast standing before the Altar where the Emperour himselfe was then present after many hidden words miraculously spoken concerning Christ upon the sudden Heaven opened and Caesar saw a beautifull virgin standing before the Altar who held in her arms as lovely an infant at this apparition Caesar affrighted fell on his face at which instant was heard a voice as from Heaven saying This is the Altar of the son of God In which place was after built a Temple dedicated to the Virgin Mary and called Ara Coeli i. The Altar of Heaven This Polycronicon affirms and for the truth thereof citeth Saint Augustine lib. 18. cap. 24. There is little more remembred of her life saving that in her books she prophesied of the comming of the Saviour of the world much after this manner Seven wonders of the world have been proclaimed But yet a greater then these are not named The Egyptians high Pyramides who seem'd To meet the stars a work once much esteem'd The Tower of Pharos The miraculous wall That Babylon begirt The fourth we call Diana's Church in Ephesus Fame sings T' had six and thirty Pillers built by Kings As many Next to these Mausolus Tombe Than which the Earth supporteth on her womb No braver structure Next to these there was The huge Colossus that was cast in brasse Of height incredible whom you may espie Holding a lamp fifty seven cubits high Bestriding an huge river The seventh wonder Was of great love that strikes with trisule thunder His Statue carv'd in Ivory and contriv'd By Phideas the best workman then surviv'd What at these trifles stands the world amaz'd And hath on them with admiration gaz'd Then wonder when the troubled world â— ' appease He shall descend who made them that made these Of these wonders briefly to make her divination the more plaine Of these Pyramides there were divers of which the greatest took up eight acres of ground parted into foure angles each equally distant eight hundred eighty foot and in height twenty five A second foure angles every one containing by even spaces seven hundred thirty and seven foot A third comprehended three hundred sixty three foot betwixt every angle A fourth erected by Rhodope the strumpet the mistresse of Aesop by the monie which she got by her trade Herodotus speaks of a Pyramis made by Cleopys King of Egypt of stones ferch'd from Arabia whose length was five furlongs the breadth ten paces He erected a second more magnificent which was not not finisht in twenty years upon which he spent so much treasure that he was forc'd to prostitute his daughter a most beautifull young virgin to supply his own necessity Pliny reports that in this structure he imploied so many workmen that they eat him 1800. talents in onyons and garlick 2. The Tower of Pharos built by Ptolomaeus in that Isle which served as a lanthorn to direct Navigators by sea in the night he spent upon it 5300. Talents Sostrata was the Architectour as appears by the inscription of his name upon the Cittadell 3. The wals of Babylon were built by Semiâ—amis they were as Hermodorus writes in thicknesse fifty cubits in height two hundred within the compasse of which were an hundred Ports having brazen gates that all mov'd upon hinges they were beautified with three hundred Turrets and Chariots might meet upon the top of them and have free passage without impediment 4. The Temple of Diana of which I have spoken before was in length 425 foot in breadth 220. It was beautified with 127. Columns 5. The tombe of Mausolus built by Artimesia Queen of Caria was in height 25. Cubits it was compast with 36 Columns it contained from the South to the North 33. foot the whole compasse contained 1411. That part which lay towards the East was perfected by Scopas that which was towards the North was ended by Briax that towards the Meridian by Timothaeus that which butted upon the West by Leocares 6. The Colossus of the Sun which bestrid the River Rhodes betwixt whose legs ships without vailing their top-sails came into the harbour was of that vastnesse that a man with his spread arms could not compasse his thumb every finger being as big as a common statue After it had stood six and fifty years it was emolisht by an earthquake The Souldan of Egypt having invaded Rhodes with the broken brasse thereof laded thence 900. Camels The chiefe workman was Chares Lindius the scholler of Licippus 7. The image of Jupiter to which some equall the Pallace of Cyrus King of the Meads built by Memnon the stones of which were cemented together with gold But I leave further to speake of these and proceed to the next Sybill Sybilla Aegyptia SHe was called Agrippa not numbred amongst the ten out hath place among the Twelve she prophesied upon the number of Three and on this manner Sacred's the number Three as Sybils tell Betwixt three brothers the Heaven Sea and Hell Were cast by lot The Earth as all men write In their divisions is called Tripartite Jove three waies striking hath his Trisulc Thunder Neptune's allow'd his Tâ—ident to keep under The mutinous waves Three fatall sisters spin Our thread of life Three Judges punish sin Even monsters are described so Geryon weares Three heads Grim Cerberus as many bears Sphinx hath three shapes of Bird of Beast of Maid All three in wings in feet in face displai'd Chimaera is Triform'd the monstrous creature Scilla 's of dogs fish and a womans feature The Erynnaes Harpyes Gorgons three-fold all The Sybils Trifatidicae we call Divining from the Tripos Orpheus Lyre Sings that 't was made of water earth and fire Three Charites three Fates three Syrens be Number the Muses they are three times three She 's triple Hecat's call'd Diana stil'd Trivia The ground of Musick was compil'd But on three cords at first and still exprest By voice by hand by breath In the Physicks
mortem somnum divers◠〈◊〉 somnia naâ—os Hos peperit nulli dea nox 〈…〉 marito Night evill fate brought forth black Parcâ— bred With Death and Sleep and divers Dreams beside Of all these sons she was delivered And yet the goddesse never husband tride Cicero in his third book De natura Deorum having numbred all the children oâ— Night derives them also from their father Erebus as may appear in these words Quod si ita est c. If it be so saith he those that are the Parents of heaven should likewise be reckoned in the number of the gods Aether and Dies i. Air and Day with their brothers and sisters by the ancient Geneologists thus nominated Amor Dolus Metus Labor Invidentia Fatum Sinectus Mors Tenebrae Mâ—sâ—ria Querelâ— Gratia Fraus Pertinacia Parcae Hesperides Somnia that is Love Deceit Feare Labour Envy Faâ—â— old Age Death Darknesse Misery Complaint Favor Fraud the Paâ—cae and the Helperides All which are by some imagined to be the children of Nex and Erebus I will only speak a little of two of these as they now lie in my way and that briefly too and because it may perchance be late before I have done with them I will conclude with Night Death and Sleep are brother and sister and both the children of Night Aristo cals Somnus a severe exacter from mankind who as it were viâ—lently snatcheth away the halfe part of our age to bestow on Sleep and therefore by Orpheus he is called the brother of Lethe which insinuates Forgetfulnesse which he most elegantly expresseth in his hymn to Sleep Somne beatorum Rex Rex summe virorum Quem fugiunt curiae c. Sleep of the blest man King and King of men Whom cares still flie and rest imbraceth then Of mischiefes the sole solace and best friend To give them due repose and comfort lâ—nd Who putting on the shape of Death dost give Only by that all creatures means to live Sleep thou hast but two sisters and these are Death and Oblivion both which shorten care Ovid in his Metamorphos for his so many benefits conferred upon Mortals placeth him in the catalogue of the gods The house of Seep the same Poet hath ingeniously described upon whom he confers a thousand children or rather a number not to be numbred nominating only three Morpheus Icelus and Phantâ—sus for sleep it is be moderately used is of all mortall things the sweetest best and most profitable to whom all creatures whatsoever are subject therefore not improperly by Orpheus tearmed the King of men and gods Homer in â—is Iliads makes an elegant expression to shew how wretched their conditions are above other men that are in high and eminent place and office and have predominance over the greatest affairs which he thus introduceth by making all both gods and men asleep at once saving Jupiter which Juno seeing she with great bribes and rewards corrupts Somnus that he would amongst the rest charm the eies of Iupiter which he attempting and the other perceiving the inraged god feeling sleep to steal upon him unawares cast him headlong from heaven into the sea where he had doubtlesse for ever perisht had not Night snatcht up her son and in her darknesse hid him from the wrath of Iupiter But had he been destroied Sleep had been exiled the earth and so all creatures deprived of their quotidian rest From hence likewise may be collected how wretched those sleeping gods are when Iupiter the only wise and potent is ever awake to see provide foresee and gooern by his infinite providence both men and creatures The City of Sleep Lucianus in his second book Verarum Historiaâ—um though tabulously yet hath facundiously described This City saith he is scituate in a most spatious and silent plaine yet round incompast with tall and spreading trees amongst whose leaves the wind only whispers but never robustiously blowes There Poppy growes abundantly Mandragora and all such plants herbs and simples as have the innate vertue to procure and provoke sleep There are multitudes of Bats which flie continually this way and that and betwixt one tree and other great store of Nâ—ght-ravens Owles and Screechowles no bird that is ashamed of day but is here frequently to be found But neither the crowing Cock the chattering Pie the quacking Duck the gagling Goose nor any other fowle either of song or clamor can thither have accesse Fast by this City glides a river with a slow and silent pace making a murmure but no noise rather to rock and â—ull asleep than to waken the water is thick and soft like oile the floods name is Lethe whom others call Nicty porus it flowes from two fountain heads both hid and obscured in places to no man known the one is called Pannychius the other Negreâ—as This City hath two ports or gates one of horn composed with miraculous workmanship in which as in a Table are expressed all such true dreams as exercise the fantasies of men in their depth of rest The other is made of the most purest and most white Ivory in which are carved all sorts of dreams but these as it were artificially shadowed by the pencill but none fully drawn and exprest to the life Within this City wals is a magnificent and spatious structure called the Temple of Night which with all superstitious ceremonies is religiously honoured there is a second instituted to the goddesse Apales and a third to Alethia in both which there are Oracles The sole inhabitants of this place are an infinite company but not a Citizen in shape or favour one like another some are lean lanck and little with crooked legs and hutch-backs rather like monsters then men others are comely well featured tall and proper with cheerfull faces and promising looks some are of a froward and terrible aspect as if they threatned mischiefe and disaster others portly gallant and regally habited and whosoever shall enter the gates of this City some domestick dream or other continually will encouter him and give him a familiar and friendly salute in the shape of some one of these formerly rehearsed relating to him some sad things some pleasant things to minister content or distaste sometimes they whisper truths but that seldome for the greatest part of that multitude are lying and deceitfull because for the most part they speak one thing and intend another and thus far Lucianus of the house of Sleep I had once occasion to write my selfe in this manner Neer to the dark Cimmeâ—ians lies a cave Beneath the foot of a declining hill Deep in the earths warm intrails like a grave Where charming silence makes all husht and still Hither did never piercing Sun-beam crave Admittance nor the voice of hunter shrill Pierce through the crannies of this concave deep Where stands the dull and leaden house of sleep Here the thick vapours from the earth exhal'd Mists all the place about a doubtfull light Begot twixt night and day
doubt knâ—w how to distinguish betwixt folly and malice Notwithstanding these smooth evasions Nicocrates fully pâ—llest of the truth gave her up into the hands of his mother to be tormented who as she is before charactered being harsh and mercilesse woman left nothing â—unâ—tâ—â—â—pted that torture could devise to wrest from her a capitall confession 〈…〉 with wondrous patience and constancy enduring whatsâ—ever the beldam could inflict up in her Culbia grew as weary in punishing as she in suffâ—â—ing insomuch that Nicocrates was in some sort perswaded of her innocency and commanded her release seeming sorrowfull for the torments she had endured so that his former loâ—e conquering his suspition he began to study a new reconcilement and excusing his too much credulousnesse renued his ancient familiarity and custome But she not forgetting her former rocks and strapadoes now bâ—gan to meâ—itate upon his death another way she had a daughter of exquisite feature and the Tyrant had a brother called Leander a wild headed young man and apt for any innovation or haiâ—-brain'd attempt she wrought 〈◊〉 far with her and so inwardly with him that by the consent of the King 〈…〉 was concluded betwixt them All these things â—â—lling out according to her wishes her daughter by the mothers instigation wrought so far upon his rashnedâ— in private and the mother gave him such incouragement with all that putting him in hope to enjoy the soveraignty 〈…〉 they perswaded him to supplant his brother This took such prosperous effect that he suborned a 〈…〉 who attending his opportunity 〈…〉 not with this contented 〈…〉 the whole family of the 〈…〉 her Countrie from all 〈…〉 the Citizens against 〈◊〉 for the murder of her King and second husband dâ—awing him into the 〈◊〉 of that publike hate that 〈◊〉 was forced to flie as a traitor and â—aâ—â—â—icide neither was she satisfied whilst he yet lived therefore by her wit and policy and the industry of one Anabas he was at length subtilly surprised by which the City received her pristine liberty and freedome For which the people would have done her divine honors as to a goddesse which she utterly refused They next proceeded to justice upon the delinquents where Calbia was judged to the fire and burnt alive and Leander to be sowed in a sack and so cast into the sea both which executions were accordingly performed The people then once againe assembled and prostrated themselves before her jointly beseeching her either to take upon her the primacy and chiefe government or at least to be a gracious assistant to the Magistrates and Princes with her directions and counsell both which she utterly refused betaking her selfe to a solitary and retired life spending the rest of her age in spinning weaving and the like womanish chares amongst her handmaids Many of the Iones by reason of a discord that fell betwixt them and the sons of of Neleus were forced to leave the City Miletum where they before inhabited and were driven to plant a new Colony in Manus betwixt which Cities there was a perpetuall jar and enmity insomuch that from a private quarrell it grew to a publike war yet nor in that violence but that upon certain festivall daies there was free recourse betwixt the Citizens of the one and the other to be present at the sacred solemnities There was amongst these of the City of Minus one of a Noble family whose name was Pythes his wife was called Japigia and his daughter Pyeria He when the great Feast celebrated to Diana called Nelaim of the opposite family was kept sent thither his wife and daughter intreating the Milesians to suffer them to participate of their solemnities which was granted at which enterview Phrigius the chiefe of the sons of Neleus a man post potent in the City grew enamoured on Pyeria and in couâ—ting her desired her to demand what curtesie soever the City or his power could yeeld and it should be instantly granted to which he answered That nothing could be more acceptable unto her then that the 〈◊〉 might have more often and peaceable recourse into their City By which he apprehended that she desired no more then a cessation of arms and that peace might be established betwixt the two Cities which by their marriage was accordingly effected and Pyeria ever after honoured for the motion Insomuch that it grew to a Proverb All the Milesian women desiring to be no better beloved of their husbands then Pyeria was of her Phrigius Aspasia being the daughter of Hermotimus Phocencis her mother dying of her in childbirth was by her fathers care brought up though meanly yet modestly and growing towards understanding she had many dreams as presages of her future fortunes namely that succeeding times should afford her a husband faire good and rich In this interim she was troubled with an unseemly swelling of the chin so great that it grew almost to a deformity being a sorrow to the father and almost a heart-break to the daughter Hermotimus carefull of her health presents her malady to the Physitian who was willing to undertake the patient but withall proposed too great a summe for the cure the one replying The demand is above my strength the other answered Then is the cure above my skill and so departed This discouragement from a Tumour without grew to a Corrasive within as much tormented with the despair of her recoveries as the violence of the disease In this anxiety of thoughts and agony of paine being much perplexed she gave her selfe to all abstinence and forbare to eat till on a time gentle slumber stealing upon her there appeared to her a Turtle which was instantly transhapt into a woman most beautifull who drawing more neer bids her take courage and be of comfort and forgetting the Physitians with all their drugs unguents and emplasters only to apply to the place then grieved Rose leaves dried to powder and not to doubt of her present recovery and having thus said upon the instant vanisht Aspasia awaking and by this vision much comforted applied to her face such things as she was taught in short time all swelling was taken away and she restored to her pristine beauty with such an addition of comelinesse that those with whom she before was held but equall she in the eies of all men might now claim over them a just precedence for she is thus described Her hair somewhat yellow and from her temples naturally curling her eies big and clear her nose somewhat but most becommingly hooked her ears short her skin white and soft her cheeks seeming to lodge the sweet blushes of the Rose for which cause the Phocenses call'd her from an infant Milto her lips red her teeth then snow more white her feet without all fault her voice so sweet and ravishing that when she spake she would put you in mind of what you have read of the Syrens From all effeminate curiosities she studied to alienate her selfe these being commonly the superfluities of wealth
presenting himselfe to the block it hapned on that time that he had a rich and precious garment of purple embroidered with gold of which the executioner being greedy and carefull to keep it from blood thereby to make the better sale of it he spent so much time this and that way not for the prisoners case but for his own advantage till the messengers appeared from the King and called aloud to make stay of justice by which means Bepolitanus his garment was as much beneficiall to his life as the Kings mercy and covetousnesse that hath been the destruction of many was the means of his unexpected safety The executioner in his greedinesse making good the old English Adage All covet all loose To leave circumstances and come to the matter The body of Toredorix was cast out and by the Kings edict denied all rites of buriall with a grievous penalty imposed upon any such as should contradict the Kings writ This notwithstanding dismaied not a faire Pergamaean damosell with whom Toredorix had been in familiarity to accomplish the vowed office of a lover and a friend who in the night watched the opportunity to take thence the body and bestow on it a fair interment but being taken by the souldiers in the performance of this last memorable duty and brought before the Tyrant either her beauty so much moved him or her rears so far prevailed with him as that his body was not only left freely to her dispose but to recompence her love and loialty she had a fair and competent dower allotted her out of the lands and goods of the trespasser Stratonica OF Stratonica Galatia may boast as breeding a Lady scarce marchable before her time or since in her condition she being the wife of King Deiotarus and barren and knowing how desirous her husband was to have issue from his own â—oâ—ns to succeed in the Kingdome sollicited him and that with great importance to select some beautifull Lady whom he best fancied and by her to raise his posterity which the King overcome with so unexpected a curtesie and therefore unwilling to wrong her bed refusing she of her own accord out of many captive virgins chused one who seemed to excell all the rest in feature and modesty and suiting her in all respects like a Princesse presented her to the King as a jewell to be received from her hand This virgins name was Elâ—ctra by whom Deiotatarus had faire and fortunate issue to whom Stratonica was a second mother and saw them educated with as much magnificence and state as if they had been born of her body and she given them suck from her own brests Her example is memorable but since her time by few that I can read of imitated Valeria and Cloelia TArquinius Superbus being expulsed the Kingdome because his sonne Sextus had stuprated the faire Lucretia wife to Collatine to reobtaine his principality he insinuated unto his aid Porsenna King of the Tuscans These with an infinite army besieged Rome insomuch that the Citizens were not only wearied with long war but opprest with famine therefore knowing Porsenna as well in war as peace to be a Prince eminent both for justice and humanity they made choice of him to arbitrate and determine all controversies betwixt Tarquin and them This motion being offered by the Romans Tarquin refused to stand to any such comprimise not allowing Porsenna a lawfull judge in regard of their late league commenced This Porsenna not well relishing treated with the Romans about a peace conditionally that they should restore back certain lands before taken from the Etruscians and of them put him in peaceable possession and till this were performed to send him ten young men and as many virgins of the noblest families for hostage which was accordingly done and he dismist his army These virgins walking by the river side which parted Camp and City for though he had sent away the greatest part of his army he had not yet raised his Tents two of the chiefe the one Cloelia the other Valeria daughter to the Consul Publicola perswaded the rest and by perswading so far prevailed that they were all resolved to passe the River when stâ—ipping themselves naked and holding as well as they conveniently could their cloaths above their heads they ventured over that unknown passage full of whirlpools and wheâ—e there was no stedfast footing and what by wading and swimming to all mens wonders got safe to shore and presented themselves to their fathers and friends who though they admired their boldnesse and commended their resolutions yet disallowing the act it selfe as those that in their faith and honour would not be outbid by any they sent them back to King Porsenna and submitted their rashnesse to be punished at his pleasure These Virgins being presented before him he demanded of them Which she was that first animated and encouraged the rest to so rash and dangerous an enterprize When Cloelia beckning to the rest to silence took all the injury contempt or whatsoever they pleased to call it upon her selfe protesting the rest innocent and she of what would be objected the sole author Porsenna observing and withall admiring her undanted courage caused presently a horse furnished with trappings to be brought which he gave to Cloelia in recompence of her magnanimous attempt sending them all in his regall curtesie back to their friends and parents Upon this horse given to Cloelia by Porsenna some have grounded that she first past the river on horseback sounding the way for the rest which others denie only that the King thought to gratifie her manly courage with the meed of a souldier Her statue on horseback is erected in Via sacra this some confer upon Cloelia others on Valeria Olympias ALexander having caused himselfe to be called the son of Jupiter writ to his mother in this manner King Alexander the son of Jupiter Hamon to his mother Olympias sends health to whom with great modesty she thus rescribed Dear son as you love me instead of doing me honour proclaim not my dishonour neither accuse me before Juno besides it is a great as persion you cast upon me to make me a strumpet though to Jupiter himselfe A great moderation in a woman who for no swelling title or vaine oftentation could be won to lose the honour to be called a loyall and chast wise Troades AMongst those frighted Trojans that fled from the fearfull ruines of subverted Troy some by the violence of outragious tempests were driven upon the coasts of Italy where landing at certain Ports neer to the river Tygris they made up into the Countrie the better to acquaint themselves with the conditions of those places In which interim the women began to apprehend that they had better far to take up an abiding place in any land then again to commit themselves to the mercilesse furie of the seas Wherefore with one joint consent they agreed to make that their fixed habitation seeing all hope of
bestowing on every woman one piece and upon all such as were with child two pieces to shew himselfe as roially bountifull as the other was penuriously sparing Celtae THese be a people of France between the rivers Graumna and Sequana who dissenting amongst themselves fell into an intestine and implacable civill war After many bloody conflicts being ready once more to joine battell the women presented to themselves betwixt their armies and with such smooth Oratory and perswasive arguments laid open the miseries of warre with the abundant commodity arising from peace and amity that they not only reconciled all hostility for the present but betwixt all the Cities and chiefe families confirmed an indissoluble league of friendship which continued many years after Since which time either in forrein differences or domestick quarrels as well in war as peace their counsell is ever demanded and for the most part followed Therefore in the league which this people made with â—annibal it is thus written If the Celtae have any thing worthy taxation to object against the Carthaginians let it be disputed by the Generals and Praefects in Spain If the Carthaginians find any thing justly to reprove the Celtae the matter shall be discust and arbitrated by their women Melitae THis people growing to that multitude that the Cities in which they inhabited could neither conveniently contain the number nor supply them with victuall sufficient sought the plantation of a colony elsewhere under the comband of a beautifull young man called Nymphaeus These falling upon the Coast of Caria were no sooner landed to discover the Countrie but by a mighty tempest their ships were either swallowed in the sea or scattered and disperst The Carians who then inhabited the City Cryassa either commiserating their distresse or fearing that boldnesse their necessities might inforce them too were pleased to allot them of their land and suffer them peaceably to dwell amongst them But finding them in a short space to increase both in wealth and power they consulted amongst themselves by what means to destroy them and utterly extirp their memory this stratagem was agreed upon to be performed at a banquet It hapned that one of the Carian damosels call'd Caphaena a Lady of a noble family grew much enamoured of this Nymphaeus and loath that the least detriment should happen to her best respected friend especially loath to see him perish she opened to him the full purpose of the City wishing him to use all means of prevention When therefore the Cryassences came to invite them to the feast Nymphaeus answered them that it was not the custome of the Graecians to assemble unto any such feasts without the company of their women which the Carians hearing intreated them likewise to grace the solemnity with their presence This done Nymphaeus relates the whole circumstance to the Melians his countrimen intreating them to beare him company to the feast all civilly habited and without weapons only that every woman should weare a sword beneath her kirtle and sit close by her husband About the midst of the banquet when the Carians were ready to give the watchword the Graecians perceiving that the instant for the pretended execution drew on all the women opening their garments at once shewed their concealed weapons which their husbands snatching from their sides assaulted the barbarous Carians and slew them all to one man by which prevention they possest themselves both of the Countrie and City But relinquishing that they built another which they called the new Cryassa and in which they planted themselves Caphaena was married to Nymphaeus having honours done to her worthy her noble fidelity One thing in this history is worthy especiall admiration namely Secresie to be kept amongst so many women Tyrrhenae THE Tyrrhenians were by the Spartans opprest and cast into Prison where they were providently kept and guarded purposing to question them for their lives The wives of the captives this hearing came to the prison doors and with humble praiers and infinite teares besought those that had the charge of them that by their visitation they might administer some small comfort to their husbands which after much importunity granted they were admitted where suddenly they caused their husbands to change habits with them which they did and so were let forth instead of the women they arming themselves against all the spight and fury of the Spartans The men that had escaped repaired to â—aygeta entering league with the Heilotes by which confederacy the Spartans somewhat affrighted by intercessors concluded a peace with them conditionally that taking back their imprisoned women they should be furnished with ships and coin to seek new fortunes elsewhere they therefore made a brotherhood betwixt them and the Lacedemonians Of which Collony two brothers Pollis and Crataida of the City of Lacedemon were made governours Part of them made residence in Melo the rest with Pollis sailed into Creet and having asked counsell of the Oracle answer was returned them That part in the place where they should leave their goddesse and lose of their anchor they should find a period of their travels and upon that continent make their aboad plant their Collony and erect a City In processe arriving in a part of Creet called Cheronesus a place halfe invironed with water or almost an island a sudden fear surprized them insomuch that hasting to get back to the Navy they left behind them the image of Diana which they had received from their ancestors by Brauron first brought into Lemons and borne by them a ship-board in all their navigation The feare being past over and the tumult appeased they weighed anchor to make from shoare but Pollis perceiving a great part of his anchor missing and left in the rocks he remembred the Oracle and causing his people to land again he made his plantation in that Countrie and after many battels in which he prevailed against the inhabitants he subdued Lictium with divers other Cities of which he had prosperous and peaceable possession Examples of Modesty and Magnanimity THE Phocenses opprest by the Tyrants of Delphoâ— in that commenced warre which was called Bellum sacrum in which the Thebans were ingaged it hapned that the Bacchanals who were women that were usually drunk in the celebrations of the feasts of Bacchus and were called Thyades extasied in their divine furor for so they termed it in their nightly wandring lost their way and erred so far that unwittingly they hapned upon the City of Amphissa and wearied as they were cast themselves dispersedly abroad in the market place there to repose themselves till they came to their better sences The Amphissesian matrons fearing lest any outrage or offence might be done unto them by reason there were at that time many forrein souldiers who were in league with the Phocences themselves in person watched these Bacchides till morning guarding and girting them round lest any thing unseemly might be spied amongst them and only with a reverend silence
Lapithae genus Heroinae Centaurâ—s mâ—dâ—o grata rapâ—â—a meâ—o Such as Iscomache that was Of the Lâ—â—y 〈…〉 She whom the Centaurs would have rapt Amâ—dst their cups of wine Perâ—â—les for his love to Aspasia made was against the Samians For Chrysaeis the daughter of Chryses Priest to Apollo 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 a plague was sent amongst the the Greekish host which ceased not till she was returned back to her father for so writes Tortellius Lavinia's beauty the daughter of King Latinus and the Queen Amata was cause of the combâ—â—ion betwixt Turnus and Aeneas so saith 〈◊〉 lib. 4. de Sâ—â—llis Lysimachâ—â— the son of Agathocles poisoned his own son Agathocles by whose fortunate hand he had received the honour and benefit of many glorious victories at the instigation of his wife Arsinoe the sister of Prolomaeus 〈◊〉 Iphis a youth of exquisite feature stranglâ—â— himselfe because he was despised by the fair but cruell Anaxarite Archelaus King of Macedon was slain by a young man called Craâ—â—na because having first promised him his faire daughter he after bestowed her upon another The Poet Archilocus called Iambographus because Lycâ—â—bes denied him his daughter in marriage writes against him such bitter Iambicks that he despaired and hanged himselfe therefore Ovid thus writes Post modo si pâ—ges in te mihi liber Iambus Tincta Licambaeo sanguine â—ela dabit If thou pursu'st me still my book Just vengeance shall implore And in Iambick weapons yeeld Dipt in Lycambes gore Justine in his twenty seventh book relates That Seleucus Callinicus King of Syria for exiling Berenice his step-mother sister to Ptolomaeus was by the same Ptolomaeus invaded and prosecuted by armes Deipâ—â—bus after the death of Paris having married Hellâ—n to which infortunate match her beauty had invited him was by her treachery not only murdered but his body hackt and mangled being almost made one universall wound Tortellius reports of one Evander the nephew 〈◊〉 Pallâ—s King of the Arcadians at the perswasion of his mother Nicostrate slâ—w his own father Orestes the son of Agameâ—â—â—n slew Pyrrhus the son of Achilles being surprised with the beauty of Hermione daughter to Meneâ—eus and Helena 〈◊〉 King of the Thebans was slain by King Crâ—eon being betraied by his own Polydices Cleopatra was the cause of that bloody war betwixt Ptolomaeus Philâ—pater and her own father Alexander King of Syria Idas and Lyncaeus the sons of Aphareus and Arbarne fought a great battel neer to Sparta about the two fair daughters of Leuâ—ippus Phebe and â—â—aira against Castor and Pollux both which were slaine in that battell and perisht not by shipwrack as some write in the pursuit of Paris by sea for the rape of their sister Hellen. Liâ—y lib 36. writes of Antiochus who warning against Rome was so taken with the beauty of a 〈…〉 that neglecting all warlike discipline to spend his 〈…〉 with his wanton he became a 〈…〉 to the enemy Octavia the sister of Augâ—lius being repudiâ—ted by Anthony was the 〈◊〉 of a civill and intestine war The Poet Lucretius growâ—â—◠〈◊〉 for the love of a 〈◊〉 damosell drank poison and so died Tullia incited â—â—rquinius Sâ—perbus to kill her own father Servius Tullius Martia the strumper caused Antonius Commodus the Emperor whose Concubine she was to 〈◊〉 slain by a souldier with whom she had many times lustfull congression Titus Corrancanus being sent on Embassie to Teuca Queen of the Illyrians because he spake to her â—reely and boldly she caused him to be put to death against the lawes of Kingdomes and Nations Livius and Florus Vollaâ—eranus writes of one Rhodoricus King of the Goths who because he stupâ—ated the daughter of Iulianus who was Prefect in the Province or Tingitana the father of the ravisht virgin brought in the Mooâ—s and raised a war which before it was ended was the death of seven hundred thousand men Chilpericus the son of Clothâ—rius was slain by the instigation of his wife Fridegunda in his return from hunting Luchinus a Court of Italy waâ—ied upon Vgolinus Gonzaga because he had adulterated his fair wife Isabella Vollaâ—â—ran Otratus King of Bohemia accused of sloath and cowardise by his wife Margarita for entring league with Rodulphus Caesar raised war betwixt them in which her husband was defeated Gandulphus the martyr for but counselling his wife to a more chast and temperate life was murdered betwixt her and the adulterer Of wars and many other mischiefes of which faire women have been the originall Ovid elegantly delivers in 2 Eleg. thus concluding Vidi ego pro nivea pugnantes conjuge tauros Spectatrix animos ipsa 〈…〉 For a white Heâ—fer I have seen 〈◊〉 â—ight Both gathering rage and couâ—age frâ—â— her sight At the building of Rome Râ—mâ—lus to people the City and get wives for his souldiers caused them to ravish the Sabin women and demosels for which waâ— grew betwixt the two Nations Of which Proper lib. 2. Cur exempla 〈◊〉 Graecum Tu criminis author Nutribus 〈…〉 lactâ— lupae c. What need I from 〈◊〉 Greekâ— example ask Thou 〈◊〉 by 〈…〉 she-woâ—fe nurs'd To rape the 〈◊〉 mâ—d'st thy souldiers task Rape Rome still loveâ— because thou taught'st it fiâ—st Since men the form at best 〈◊〉 â—oon fades and thâ— beauty hath been the came of so much blood-shed Why should women be so proud of that which rated 〈◊〉 the highest is no better then in excellent evill or a wretched wonder that had beginning therefore subject to end created from earth and therefore consequently transâ—â—â—ry but on the contrary since the vertues of the mind â—â—ely acquire after 〈◊〉 and glory conquer oblivion and survive envy and Phâ—nix-like recover fresh youth from forgotten ashes To such I yeeld the first place and so begin with the Amazons Of the Amazons AND first of their Country Cappadocia is a land that breedeth goodly and brave horses it hath on the East side Armenia on the West Asia the lesse on the North Amazonia on the South Mount Taurus by which lieth Sicilia and 〈◊〉 as far as the Cilicke Sea that stretcheth towards the Island of Cyprus The lesse Asia called Asia minor joineth to Cappadocia and is closed in with the great sea for it hath on the North the mouth and sea that is called Euxinus on the West Propontides on the South the Aegyptian sea This lesse Asia conteineth many Provinces and Lands 〈◊〉 the North side Bythinia butting upon the sea against Thracia and is called Phrygia the greater The chiefe City of Bythinia is Nicomedia Galathia takes name of the 〈◊〉 that assisted the King of Bythinia in his wars and therefore had that Province given them to inhabit It was first called Gallograecia as being people mixt of the Gals and Grecians but now they be called Galathians and these are they to whom Saint Paul writ his Epistles Ad Galatas The third part of
Asia minor is called Phrygia and took name of Phrygia daughter to Europa the daughter of Aeâ—â—nor that Phygia was likewise called Dardania of Dardanus the son of Iupiter It hath on the East side Lydia and on the West the sea Hâ—lleâ—ponâ—us so called of Helles the sister of Phrixus who was â—â—ere drowned Lydia is on the East side of East Phrygia there sometimes reigned the rien King Croesus There were two brethren Kings of that Country the one call'd Liddus the other Tyrrhenus but the land being too little for both they cast lots which should abide there and which should seek abroad to plant a Colony else-where which lot â—ell to the younger Tyrrhenus He toucht upon a land then called Gallia which after he caused to be named Tyrrhia of him also the sea Tyrrhenus took denomination as the Land of Lydia of his brother Lyddus Of Lydia the chiefe City in Smyrna to which City St. Iohn the Evangelist writeth in his Apocal. The chiefe river of that Country is Pâ—ctolus which as the Poets Fable hath golden lands The fifth part of Asia minor is called 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 the chiefe City is Seleucia built by 〈…〉 Antiochus 〈◊〉 to that is Cilicia and 〈◊〉 Lycia which is called likewise Licaonia in which are the two noble Cities Lystris and Derbe spoken of in Actib Apostol By these Cities they saile out of Syria into Italy but the chief of all these Cities is Tharsis downwards towards the Amazonian sea and that land is part in Asia and part scituate in Europe Now touching the originall of the Amazons and why they were first so called divers authors have diversly writ Palaephatus in his fabulous narrations saith The Amazons were not women but certaine barbarous men who used to weare long garments and loose reaching below their ancles after the manner of the Thracian women who shaved their chins and wore the hairs of their head long but covered with miters These Amazons were a warlike people and did many brave and remarkable deeds of arms But there is no likelihood saith he that such should be women because of that nation there is at this day no memory but this was but his opinion Trogus Pompeius from whom Iustine extracts his history thus speaks of their originall Scythia towards the East is of one side embraced by the sea on the other part hemm'd in by the Ryphaean mountains the longitude and latitude thereof lies open to Asia and the river Tanâ—is These Scythians have no portions of land amongst them which any man can call his own they manner no fields they build no houses ignorant both of Agriculture and Architecture their riches are their herds and their cattle they delight in unfrequented solitudes and inhabitable desarts when they remove from one place to another they carry their wives along with them in Chariots and Waggons these are covered with leather and skins of beasts to â—hâ—ound them from summers showers and defend themselves from winters tempests they know no houses else and for no others care Justice is mainteined by the modesty of their manners nor by the severity of their lawes There is no offence so grievous to them as their because their flocks lie open without folds or sheep-coats Gold and silver they despise as much as other Nations covet it esteeming it rather an unusefull burden then a profitable merchandise Their food is for the most part milk and honie the benefit of wool or cloath is to them altogether unknown though the climate oppresse them with continuall cold their habit is fuâ—s and 〈◊〉 of beasts their conâ—inence teacheth them that justice That they covet nothing but what is their own for where there is desire of riches there must necessarily be usury and oppression Were the like moderation and abstinence used amongst all nations warre and surâ—et would not as they do now destroy more then age or nature Admirable it is that custome in them should attain to as much true morall humanity as the wise men of Greece have reached to by the learning of arts or study of Philosophy and that untaught Barbarians should excell them that professe to 〈◊〉 others in manners more eminent far in their ignorance of vice then the others in their knowledge of Vertue Three times these Scythians attempted the Empire of Asia in all their expeditions remaining unfoil'd at least unconquered Daâ—ius King of Persia they put to shamefull â—light Cyrus with a supposed invincible army they slew in the field Zâ—â—pyrus the great Captain of Alexander they victoriously defeated Of the Romans they only heard their power but never felt their strength The Parthian and Bactrian Empire they establisht A nation in labours unwearied in dangers undismaied not seeking to get what they cared not to lose in all their victories preferring the glorie before the spoile The first that made war against this Nation was Vexores King of Aegypt who by his Embassadours sent them word to prepare themselves for defence by whom they returned to the King this answer We wonder that the Captain of so rich a people will wage warre against us that are known so poor considering the successe of war is doubtfull and howsoever the event prove the reward of the victory is nothing but the damage arising from the sight manifest Their answer went before which their resolution as suddeâ—ly and swiftly pursued after for their army and their answer almost arrived together whose celerity in match and resolution in purpose when Vexores understood he forsook his tents and all provision for war and betook himselfe to a base and dishonourable flight They pursued him to the Aegyptian sens but by reason of the marishes and uncertain ground their further passage was prohibited Retyâ—â—ng tuâ—nce they overran Asia and subdued it under their predâ—minance imposing on the Nations a small tribaâ—e rather in acknowledgement of the title then to be gainers by the victory the enemy rather suffering disgrace then oppresâ—â—n fifteen yeares they continued in Asia rather to settle the 〈◊〉 then to extort from the inhabitants From thence they we 〈◊〉 by the wickednesse of their wives from whom they â—eceived word That unlesse they 〈◊〉 repaired home they would seek issue from the neighbour nations for they would not suffer the posterity of the ancient Scythians to be in the women extinct Asia was for many years tributary to the Scythians Trogus and Justine say for a thousand and five hundred years which ended in Ninus King of Assyria In this interim two Princely youths among the Scythians Plinos and Scolopitus being by the optimates and chiefe of the people expulsed from their families drew to their society a mighty confluence and invaded Cappadocia planting themselves neer to the river Theâ—medon and being by conquest possessed of Themisciria there having for many years made spoile of the neighbour nations by the conspiracy of the multitude who were opprest with their insolencies they were betraid and slain Their
gates are fast locked and flie he could not but as sudden extremities impress in men as sudden shitts he espying the Ladder presently apprehends what had been whispered of Frier Johns love to the Knights Lady and lifting him upon his shoulders by the help of the same Ladder carries him into the porch of the Knights hall and there sets him and so closely conveies himselfe back into the Monastery the same way he came not so much as suspected of any In the interim whilst this was done the Knight being perplexâ—d and troubled in conscience could by no means sleep but cals up his man and bids him go listen about the wals of the Monastery if he can hear any noise or uprore about the murther Forth goes he from his masters chamber and having past the length of the hall purposing to go through the yard finds Frier Iohn sitting upright in the porch he starting at the sight runs back affrighted and almost districted and scarce able to speak brings this newes to his master who no lesse astonished could not beleeve it to be so but rather his mans fantasie till himselfe went down and became eie-witnesse of the strange object Then wonderously despâ—iâ—ing he intimates within himself that murther is one of the crying sins and such a one as cannot be concealed yet recollecting his spirits he purposeth to make tryall of a desperate adventure and put the discovery theirof to accident he remembers an old stallion that had been a horse of service then in his stable one of those he had used in the French wars and withall a rusty Armor hanging in his Aâ—mory he commands both instantly to be brought with strong new cords a case of rusty Pistols and a Lance. The horse is ladled and capparison'd the Armor put upon the Frier and he fast bound in the seat the Launce tied to his wrist and the lower end put into the rest his head peece clasped on and his Beaver up the skiâ—ts of his grey gown serv'd for Bases and thus accountred like a Knight compleatly armed Cap-aâ—pe they purpose to turn him out of the gates he and his horse without any Page or Esquire to trie a new adventure Whilst these things were thus in fitting Frier Richard in the Monastery no lesse perplexed in conscience then the Knight about the murther casting all doubts and stil dreading the strictnesse of the Law summons all his wits about him to prevent the worst at length sets up his rest that it his best and safest way to flie he remembers withall that there was belonging to the Frierie a Mare emploied to carry corn to and fro from the Mil which was some halfe a mile from the Monastery being somewhat fat and therefore doubting his own footmanship he thinks it the safer course to trust to four legs then to two he therefore cals up the Baker that had the charge of the beast and tels him he understands there was Meal that morning to be fetcht from the Mill which was grinded by that time therefore if he would let him have the Mare he would it being now night save him that labour and bring it back before morning The fellow willing to spare so much pains caused the back gate to be opened The Frier gets us and rides out of the Monastery gate just at the instant when the Knight and his man had turned out the Frier on horseback to seek his fortune the horse presently seems the Mare and after her he gallops Frier Richard looking back amazed to have an armed Knight pursue him and by the Moon-light perceiving the Frier armed for he might discern his face partly by the Moon and partly by the breaking of the day his Beaver being up away flies he and takes through the streets after ter him or rather the Mare speeds the horse Great noise was in the City insomuch that many awaking out of their sleeps and morning rests from their windowes looked out At length it was Frier Richards ill fate to take into a turn-again-lane that had no passage through there Frier Iohn overtakes him the Horse mounts the Mare and with his violent motion the rotten and rusty armour makes a terrible noise Frier Richards burthened conscience clamours out aloud for help and withall cries Guilty of the murther at the noise of murther the people being amazed run out of their beds into the streets They apprehend miracles and he confesseth wonders but withall that barbarous and inhumane fact to murder one of his Covent the grudge that was betwixt them is known and the apparant justice of heaven the rather beleeved Frier Iohn is dismounted and sent to his grave Frier Richard to prison he is arraigned and in processe by his own confession condemned But before the execution the Knight knowing his old guilty conscience posts instantly to the King makes his voluntary confession and hath his life and goods for his former good service pardoned him Frier Richard is released and the accident remains still recorded Of Callirhoe daughter to Boetius I Now return to more serious antiquity Phocus Boetius was born in the City Glâ—sanâ—es and had a dâ—ughter called Callirhoe of such incomparable feature and beauty mixed and withall so inherent a modesty and vertue all meeting in one center to make a perfect and compleat creature that thirty of the noble youths of Boeotia were suitors to her at once and every one sollicited her for marriage but Phocus fearing their importunities and by inclining to one to hazard the displeasures of all the rest delaid them for his consent but they still more and more â—rging him he desired but respite till he sent to Delphos there to demand the advice of the Oracle how to dispose of his daughter but they taking this his pretended delay in ill part all iâ—aged with 〈…〉 content â—et violently upon him and his houshold in which conflict Phocus was slain It hapned that in the mâ—ddest of this tumult the virgin escaped and flâ—d into the Câ—untry whom the suitors no sooner missed 〈…〉 expedition pursued her it so fell out for such 〈…〉 good fortune that the light upon some Country 〈◊〉 that were removing their corn from the field into the 〈◊〉 for it was then harvest whom she humbly besought to be her protectors from rape and the preservers of her 〈◊〉 they having commiseration of her youth and 〈◊〉 both which are prevailing Orators hid her amongst the theaves by which the pursuers were disappointed of their purpose and being at a losse over run the game they chased Amongst these honest and simple people she lived for a time retired and unknown till the solemnity of a great feast day which the Bâ—oetians called Pamâ—oeâ—tia at which there was customably a mighty confluence of people of all sorts and degrees from the highest to the lowest To this Feast she came which was then celebrated in the City Coranea and prostrating her selfe before the Altar of Itonia Minerva in the face of that
Hetâ—urian Damosell taken by a Souldier who to preserve her Virginity leapt off from the bridge Ancisa into the Arnus of whom Benedictus Varchius hath left this memory in one of his Epigrams Perderet intactum ne Virgo Etrusca pudorem In rapidas sese praecipitavit aquos c. The Hetrurian Girl her honour still to keep Precipitates her selfe into the deep And from the bottom three times being cast Vp into th' air as loth that one so chast Should there be swallow'd she as oft sinks down Her modest face her martyrdome to crown And shame the lustfull world What shall we say Of the chast Lucrece famous to this day She for one death is call'd the Romans pride To save her Fame this Tuscan three times di'd Bernardus Scandeonus lib. 3. Classe 34. Histor Patavinae writes that when Maximilian the Emperor made spoil of the Paduan territories divers of the Country people leaving the villages empty fled into the City amongst whom was one Isabella a Damosell of Ravenna who being seized on by some of the Venetian souldiers that then had the charge of the City and surprized with her beauty drew her aside with purpose to have dishonoured her but finding no other means to shun the violence of their lust she from the bridge cast her selfe headlong into the river Medoacus where she was drowned and afterwards her body being drawn out of the river was buried under a bank without any other ceremony belonging to a Funerall Martia the daughter of Varro was of that admirable continence and chastity that being most excellent in the Art of Painting she not only alienated and restrained her Pencill from limning any thing that might appear obscene or shew the least immodesty but she was never known to delineate or draw the face of a man Ravis in Officin The like is reported of 〈…〉 alike excellent in Painting and as remarkable for her Virgin Chastiâ—y Britonia a beautifull maid of Creet giving her selfe wholly to Hâ—nting and the Chase to shun the importunities of King Minos who laid trains to vitiate her threw her selfe into a river and was drowned Daphne the daughter of Amicla retired her selfe both from walled Cities and all publick society and was at length enterteined into the fellowship of Diana frequenting the Laconian fields and Peloponnesian mountains Of her Leucippus the son of Oenemaus was enamoured who having attempted divers waies to compasse his will but not prevailing in any he bethought himselfe what course Jupiter took to stuprate Calisto the daughter of Lycaon and attiring himselfe in the habit of a female Huntresse was entertained by Diana and admitted into their number where he grew familiar with all and especially endeared to Daphne insomuch that she thought no hour well spent without him Of which acquaintance Apollo being jealous in regard they had such convenience of time place and opportunity he put his own dearly beloved Daphne in mind to entice Leucippus to a river where Diana with all their nymphs intended to both themselves Whither when they came the Virgins disrobed themselves even to nakednesse and being all stript to their skins but finding Leucippus only to move delaies they pluckt off his garment by force and so discovered him to be one of the contrary Sex at which Diana enraged commanded all her Virgins to take up their Bowes and Quivers and so they shot him to death with their arrowes This is recorded by Parthen de Amator Theodor. Flaietes in Eleg. and Philarchus lib. 15. Of Chast Wives AN excellent president of Chastity was that in Rhodogune the daughter of Darius who caused her Nurse to be slain because her husband being dead she perswaded her to a second marriage A more admirable remark of Nuptiall Chastity it was of the wives of the Theutonicks remembred Hieron in his Epistle to Gerontia whose husbands being slain and they taken captive by Marius humbly besought him on their knees that they might be sent to the Vestals in Rome as a present protesting they would be equally with them still from the society of men and professe perpetuall chastity but their request being denied by the Consul Marius the next night following all of them with an unite consent strangled themselves Theoxena was famous for her Chastity who being environed at Sea by the Navy of Philip King of Macedon seeing her husband thrown over-booâ—'d leapt after him to follow him in death not only to express her love to her husband but her scorn to stand to the mercy of the conqueror Baptista Pius lib. 2. Elegiar speaks of Tyro a woman of Thessalia who her husband being dead could by no counsell of friends or perswasion of kindred be won to survive him Plutarch in Pompeio speaking of Hypsicrataea saith she was so endearedly affected to her husband King Mithridates that for his love she made a voluntary change of her most becoming womanish shape and habit into a mans for cutting her hair she accustomed her selfe to the practise of Horse and Arms that she might with the more facilitie endure the labours and dangers of the wars Her husband being subdued by Câ— Pompeius and his Army quite dissipate and overcome she followed him flying through many barbarous Nations where her life and safety were in hourly hazard and these she enterprized with a mind undaunted and a body unwearied her faith and loialty in all his extremities being to him no small solace and comfort for though an Exile being still in the society of his Queen and bed fellow he imagined himsâ—lfe in what place soever he reposed to have been in his own palace and amongst his houshold gods Of Penelope THE beauty of Penelope attracted a number of suitors who from divers Countries came to adulterate the bed of Vlysses From Dâ—lichim came two and fifty from Samos four and twenty from Xacynthus twenty from Ithaca two and twenty of which these are nominated by Homer Antinous Eurinous Eurimachus Leocritus Neso Pysander Hesippus Agatus Leocles Ampinomus Demotholomaeus Medon a common Crier Euphemus a Minstrel and Irus a Beggar all which Vlysses at his return from his years travels slew in his own house Some of these Ovids Penelope reckons up in these verse Dulichii Samiique quos tulit alta Xacinthus c. Dulichium Samos and Xacinthus Hill Throng me with troops of wanton suitors still What should I speak to thee of Medon fell Of Polibus or of Pysander tell What of Antinous giddy head deplore Covetous Eurimachus and others more These in thine absence cannot be withstood But still thou feed'st them with thy wealth and blood The Begger Irus and Melanthius too The Herdsman c. And since we are in the history of Penelope It shall not be amisse to dilate it a little further out of Homer who in his first book intituled Odyssaea of Phaemius the Harper speaks to this purpose Phaemius the Harper to the boord invited Where the bold suitors
Amor est aliuitque corinthus At nunc ipsa tenet inclita Thessalia Though Greece of unmatch'd strength and courage be It obei'd Lais to thy shape and thee Love was thy father thee Corinthus bred Who now in stately Thessaly liest dead This notwithstanding some will not allow her to have been educated in in the Cranaeum which is a place of exercise in the City of Corinth Phrine SHE for her beauty was emulated by Lais and was a prostitute in Thespis a City of Booetia who being for some Capitall crime convented before the Senate and notwithstanding she had a famous Advocate to plead in her behalfe fearing some harsh and severe censure she trusting to her beauty bethought her of this project before the sentence was pronounced she cast off her loose and upper garments and without any word speaking as far as womanish modesty would suffer her exposed her body naked to the Judges O Beauty thou canst more prevail then a thousand Orators With her rare form and extraordinary feature the old gray-beards were so taken that where before their purpose was to inflict upon her some severe punishment they changed their austerity into love and pity and dismissed her without mulct or fine Therefore the famous Orator and Grammarian Quintilian thus speaks The admirable beauty of so compleat a Fabrick more prevâ—iled with the Senate then all the Rhetoricall eloquence of her Advocate Hypparis Upon this occasion an Edict was published That from thence forward no Client whatsoever should be in presence whilst their Cause was in pleading lest either pity or affection to the person should sway the ballance of justice and equity It is further remembred of her That Praxitiles the most excellent Painter of his time for some courtesies she had done or some favours grac'd him with promised to give her the best and most curious Table in his work-house but she by no perswasion or cunning able to wrest from him which amongst so many had the priority she bethought her of this sleight watching a time when the Painter was abroad in the City she hired a messenger to run to him in all hast and counterfeiting a sudden passion to tell him his house was on fiâ—e and many or most of his elaborate pieces burnt to ashes At which Praxitiles amazed and strangely moved broke forth into this language But is the Picture of Cupid safe and reserved from combustion by which she found that to be his Master-piece and therefore due to her by promise This Phrine never used the hot Baths as other of her profession accustomed to doe only at the Feasts of Ceres and Neptune she would in the sight of all the Grecians in her loose garment and hair dishevelled about her shoulders walk down to the Sea side and there wash her selfe And from her as Athenaeus in his Dypnos lib. 13. cap. 22. affirms Apelles drew that admirable and unmatched piece called Venus Emergeus i. Venus swimming or rising ouâ— of the waters Of which Ausonius composed an Epigram with this inscription In venerem Andiomenen Emersam Pelagi nuper genitalibus undis Câ—pria Apellaei Cerne laboris opus Behold fair Cipria from her native Brine Plunging Apelles a brave work of thine Who shaking off her golden curls late drown'd Rains the salt sea-drops from her shoulders round Her hairs yet dank 'bout her white wrists she winds Which wreath'd she in her silken hair lace binds Pallas and Juno said this having seen Wee yield the Palm to thee fair beauties Queen Praxitiles the Statuary before spoken of drew from her the Picture of Venus Cnidia and under the Table of Love which was given to adorn the Theatre he caused these verses to be inscribed Praxitiles pinxit prius est quem passus amorem Deprompsit proprio pectore qui A chetipum Love which himselfe hath suffered and best knew From his own breast this piece the Painter drew This Picture of Love some say was placed in Thespia a free Town in Boetis nere Helicon and dedicated to the Muses which others take to be a City in Magnesia neer Thessaly but her golden Picture made by Praxitiles was hung in Delphos above the Marble Statue of Mercury and betwixt that of Archidamus King of the Lacedemonians and Philip of Amintas having this inscription Phrine Epicleis Thespia This when Crates Cinicus beheld he said This Table is dedicated to expresse the intemperance of the Grecians as Alcaetus witnesseth lib. 20. depositorum in Delphis Apollodorus in Lib. Amicarum speaks of two Phrines the one was called Sapâ—rduis the other Clausigâ—los of Kleo i. Lugeo to mourn and Gelos i. Risus Laughter Herodicus saith lib. 6. Objurgatorum That she was called by the Orators Sestus because she rifled and despoiled her Clients and the other Thespica This Phrine grew exceeding rich and made offer to begirt Tnebes with a new wall so that upon the chief gate they would make this inscription This Alexander the Great demolished which Phrine the Courtesan at her own charge erected for so writes Callistratus in his book Amicarum Timocles Comicus writ of her infinite riches in his Neaera as likewise Amphis in Novacula Aristogiton in an Oration against Phrine affirms That her proper name was Mâ—nesarete Of her Posidippus Comicus writ more at large in Ephesia There was one Timandra daughter to Tyndarus and Laedia the sister to Clitemnestra but Pliny speaks of a notorious strumpet of that name beloved of Alcibiades the Athenian for whom being dead she erected a famous Sepulchre she was with her friend Aâ—cis opprest in battell by Lysander Equall to her in beauty was Campaspe by some called Pancasta a wanton of an extraordinary feature and much affected by the excellent Painter Apelles she was prisoner to Alexander the great and at his earnest intercession bestowed on him by the Macedonian Conquerour Glicerin or Glicera and others THis Glicera was sirnamed Thespiensis of the City where she was born Praxitiles the Painter much doted on her beauty and gave her a Table in which Cupid was most curiously pourtraied which after her death she bequeathed as a legacy to the City Satyrus reports That Stilpo being at a banquet with her and reproving her as a great corrupter of the yong men of Thespis she answer'd we are O Stilpo of one and the same error guilty alike For it is said of thee That all such as converse with thee and participate of thy precepts thou corruptest with thy amatorious and unprofitable Sophisms smal difference then there is to be traduced by thee a Philosopher or by me a professed Prostitute She was a great favourite of the Poet Menander Hipperides in an oration against Manlithaeus as also Theopompus affirms That Harpalus after the death of Pythonice sent for Glicera to Athens who comming to Tarsus was received into the Kings Palace whither much confluence was assembled bowing their knees to her and saluting her by the name of Queen neither would they
Sirobyla by the name of Phano acknowledging her to be their own But lest with this multiplicity of Hâ—stories I shovld grow tedious here though abruptly I will pawse for the present Of Famous Wantons OF some of these something more at large It is a Maxim Amor ubique in natura Love is every where in Nature The Poets as Euripides and others called him The Great and most mighty of the gods and grave Aeschilus in Danais introduc'd his mother Venus thus saying Ferire purus Aether arva concupit Amorque terrae consequi vult Nuptias c. The pure air ever loves to stroke the fields And to the nuptials of the air th' earth yields The shours drop from the clear heavens and rain down To kisse the Earth and give her a fresh Gown Whose garments were late thred-bare even these prove In senslesse things congresse and marriage love Whose birth we look for where the Countrie Swain The Mid-wife plaâ—es and Apples Fruits and Grain Returns us in their time Then Ceres takes These infants to her charge nor them forsakes But whilst she can from all corruption saves Till being ripe for death we find them graves If you would know who first prescrib'd these lawes Of this free birth I Venus am the cause The like Euripides speaks in Hyppolitus If then this universality of Love be in senslesse creatures no marvel if it be so frequent in such as pretend to understand Herodotus lib. 1 saith it was a Law amongst the Babylonians That all women free-born and Denizens of the City were enjoined once in their life times to make repair to the Temple of Melitta for by that name the Assyrians called Venus and sitting in the Porch to subject themselves to the embraces of any stranger But some of the noblest and richest not willing to publish themselves to open prostitution were drawn thither in Chariots covered leaving their train and attendants behind them many sitting in the Temple in Pues or places allotted them with garlands upon their heads of which whilst some are called apart others still return for their passages to and fro are distinguished by small cords or strings which direct strangers unto such woman to whom they are most addicted But of these not any return to their houses after they have once took up their seats till some client hath cast some coin or other into her lap be it never so small or great and have had carnall company with her in a sequestred place of the Temple which done he is to say So much I did owe thee O goddesse Melitta Nor was any woman to refuse the monie that was offered her whatsoever it were because it was to be emploied in their supposed pious uses Neither was it lawful for a woman to refuse any man but she was compelled to follow him that cast the first coin into her apron This being done it was lawfull for her to mingle her selfe in prostitution with whom she pleased The fairest and most beautifull were for the most part soonest dispatcht but others that have been ugly and deformed have been forced to sit in the Temple some one some two some three years and upwards before they could meet with any by whose help they might give satisfaction to the Law return to their own houses and make use of their free liberty The like custome though not in every particular was in Cyprus Amongst the Caâ—nians a people in Coria there was a yearly convention of young men and women to the like purpose as the same Author in the same book affirms Aelianus de var. Histor lib. 4. saith That the Lydian women before their marriage presented themselves for gain till they had purchased to themselves a competent dowrie but having once selected a husband they from that time lived in all continence and chastity From this generality I come to particulars and first of Thau She was a strumpeâ— of Corinth whose beauty bewitched all the Attick youth Her the Greek Poet Menander in his works most celebrated of whom she was called Menandraea Clitarchus specifies unto us That she was much beloved of Alexander the Great at whose request after the conquest of Cyrus all the Imperial Pallaces of Persepolis with the greatest part of the City were â—et on fire and burned down to the earth This strumpet after the death of Alexander was married to the first Ptolomey of Aegypt by whom she had two sons Leontiscus and Legus with one daughter called Irene whom Solon King of Cyprus after took to wife Lamia was a Courtizan of Athens and entired to Demetrius a Lord of many Nations insomuch that in his Armour and Crown with his Imperial Diadem he was often seen publikely to enter her roof to converse with her and eat at her Table It had been lesse dishonour for so great a person to have given her meeting more privately In this one thing Diodorus the minstrel was preferred before Demetrius who being divers times sent for to this Courtizans house refused to come This Lamia was wont as Aelianus lib. 1. reports to compare the Greeks to Lions and the Ephesians to Wolves Gnathaena was of the same Countrie and born in Athens of whom it is thus remembered A noble fellow drawn as far as the Hellesport by the attractive fame of her beauty she gave him both meeting and entertainment of which he growing proud and somewhat insolent using much loquacity and superfluous language being in the heat of wine and lust she asked him Whether as he pretended became from the Hellespont To whom he answered He did She replied And do you know the name of the chiefe City there He told her Yes She then desired him to give it name He told her it was called Sygaeum By which she ingeniously reproved his verbositie since Sygae of which Greek word the City takes denomination signifieth silence and taciturnity Of her prompt and witty answers the Poet Machon sets down many for she was held to be wondrous facetious and scoâ—â—ing and exceedingly beloved of the Poet Diphilus Lynceus likewise remembers many things concerning her Pausonius Lacus being dancing in her presence in doing a lofty trick above ground and not able to recover himselfe he fell headlong into a vessel that stood by See saith she Lacus in cadum incidit i. The Pool hath powered himselfe into the Vessel Lacus not only signifies a Pool but a Vessel which receiveth the wine when it is pressed Another offering her a small quantity of wine in a great and large bowle and told her withall That it was at least seventeen years old Truly answered she it is wondrous little of the age Two young men in the heat of wine quarrelling about her and going to buffers to him that had the worst she thus said Despair nor youth Non enim Coronarium est certamen sed Argenteum i. This was a prize for monie only not for a Garland When one had given her fair daughter who was of the same
to Troy in Asia The Princes of Greece redemanding her answer was returned That since they made no restitution of Europa nor of Medea nor Hesione neither would they of Hellena which was the originall of that memorable siege of Troy and the destruction of that famous City Herodotus lib. 1. Thrasimenes being enamored of the fair daughter of Pisistratus and his affection daily more and more encreasing he gathered himselfe a society of young men and watching the Lady when she came with other young damosels to offer sacrifice according to the custome of the Country by the Sea side with their swords drawn they set upon the company that attended her and having dispersed them snatched her up and hurrying her aboord sailed with her towards Aegina But Hyppias the eldest son of Pisistratus being then at Sea to clear those coasts of Pirats by the swiftnesse of their Oars imagined them to be of the fellowship of the Sea-robbers pursued them boorded them and took them who finding his sister there brought her back with the ravishers Thrasimenes with the rest of his faction being brought before Pisistratus notwithstanding his known austerity would neither do him honor nor use towards him the least submission but with bold and undaunted constancy attended their sentence telling him That when the attempt was first proposed they then armed themselves for death and all disasters Pisistratus admiring their courage and magnanimity which shewed the greater in regard of their youth called his daughter before him and in the presence of his nobility to recompence his celsitude of mind spirit freely bestowed her upon Thrasymenes by which mens he reconciled their opposition and enterteined them into new faith and obedience no more expressing himselfe a Tyrant but a loving and bountiful father and withall a popular Citizen Polin lib. 5. The daughters of King Adrastus were ravished by Acesteneutrix as Statius lib. 1. hath left remembred Buenus the son of Mars and Sterope married Marpissâ— daughter to Oenemaus and Alcippa whom Apharetas espying as she danced amongst other Ladies grew enamoured of and â—orcibly rapt her from her company Plutarch in Paral. Hersilia with the Sabine Virgins were likewise rap'd by Romulus and his souldiers at large described by Ovid. lib. de Arte Amandi 1. Lucrece the chast Roman Matron was stuprated by Sextus Tarquinius of whom Seneca in Octavia thus saith Nata Lucreti stuprum saevi passa Tyranni Eudoxia being left by Valentinianus was basely ravished by the Tyrant Maximus who usurped in the Empire for which she invited Gensericus out of Africk to avenge her of the shame and dishonour done unto her Sigebertus in Chronicu The same Author tels us of Ogdilo Duke of Boiaria who forced the sister of King Pepin for which injury done to her the King oppressed him with a cruell and boody war Of Handmaids Nurses Midwives and Stepdames PEecusa was a Handmaid to Diana whom Martial lib. 1. thus remembers Et â—â—eidit sectis Iâ—la Plâ—cusa Crinis Lagopice is another lib. 7. remembred by the same Author Cibale was the maid-servant to a poor man called Similus remembred by Virgil in Morete Phillis Troiana was the Handmaid to Phoceus as Briseis was to Achilles Pliny lib. 36. cap. 27. makes Ocrisia the damosell to the Queen Tanaquil so Horace makes Cassandra to Agamemnon Gyge as Plutarch relates was such to Parysatis Queen of Persia and mother to Cyrus Thressa was maid-servant to Thales Milesius who as Theodoricus Cyrenensis affirms when she saw her Master come home dirty and miry as being newly crept out of a ditch chid him exceeding for gazing at the Stars to find those hidden things above and had not the foresight to see what lay below at his feet but he must stumble Herodotus in Euterpe cals Rhodope the famous Aegyptian the Handmaid of Iadmon Samius a Philosopher Elos was a damosell to King Athamas from whom a great City in Achaia took denomination and was called Aelos Lardana as Herodotus affirms was at first no better then a servant from whom the noble Family of the Heraclidae derive their first orginall Titula otherwise called Philotis was a Roman Virgin of the like condition and is remembred for such by Plutarch in Camillo as also by Macrob. lib. 1. Saturnalium Proconnesia is remembred by Pliny who in one day brought forth two children the one like her Master and the other like another man with whom she had had company and being born delivered either child to his father Lathris was the handmaid to Cinthia so much spoken of by Propert. as Cypassis was to Cersinna the mistresse of Ovid of whom he thus writes Eleg. lib. 2. Commendis in mille modis praefecta capillis Comere sed solas digna Cipasse Deas She rules her mistresse hair her skill is such A thousand severall waies to her desires O worthy none but goddesses to touch To comb and deck their heads in costly Tires Chionia was Hand-maid to the blessed Anastasia so likewise was Galanthis to Alâ—mena the mother of Hercules of whom the same Author lib. 9. thus saies Vna ministrarium media de plebe Galanthis Flava comas aderat faciendis strenua jussis Amidst them all Galanthis stood With bright and yellow hair A 〈◊〉 that quick and nimble was Things needfull to prepare From Hand-maids I proceed to Nurâ—es Annius upon Berosus and Calderinus upon Statius nominace Caphyrna or Calphurâ—â—a the daughter of Oceanus to have been the Nurse of Neptune as Amalthea and Melissa were to Jupiter who fed him with the milk of a Goat in his infancy when he was concealed from his father Hence it came that the Poets fabled how Jupiter was nursed by a Goat for which courtesie he was translated amongst the stars Others say he was nursed by Adrastea and Ida the two daughters of King Melisaeus for so Erasmus teacheth in the explanation of the Adage Copiae Cornu Ino was the nurse of Bacchus as Ovid witnesseth in Ib. where he likewise cals her the Aunt to Bacchus in this Verse Vt teneri Nutrix eadem Matertera Bacchi Of the same opinion with him is Statius lib. 2. Silv. But Ammonius Grammaticus makes Fesula the woman that gave him such Pliny cals her Nysa saith she was buried neer to the City Scythopolis Polycha was the Nurse of Oedipus who fostered him when his father Laius cast him out in his infancy because the Oracle had foretold he should perish by the hand of his son Barce was the Nurse of Sychaeus the most potent and rich King of the Phoenicians and husband to Dido Her Virgil remembers Aenead lib. 4. Charme was Nurse to the Virgin Scilla of whom the same Author in Syri thus saies Illa autem quid nunc me inquit Nutricula torques i. Why O Nurse dost thou thus torment me Beroe Epidauria was Nurse to Cadmeian Semele the mother of Bacchus as Aceste was to the daughters of Adrastus Stat. lib. 1. Theb. Eupheme is memorated to be the Nurse to
wals the Queen Nicocris who after some years succeeded her made much more stately exceeding her in all her 〈◊〉 Tagenna a women of seventy cubits high Lib. 1. Canusia Valer. Tus Opaea Berenices Arsinoe Herodias Faustina Lucilla Christiana Stratonice Casperia Livia Horestilla Lollia Paul Caesonia Commod born the same day that Calig vitiated the Vestall virgin Capitolin The riddle of Sphinx Plutarh de Homero De re Poet. lib. 3. * Aemus a hil in Thessaly where same say Homer was born A strange Incest L. 9. c. 47. Incest abominable in beasts 〈◊〉 Veronica Cap. 17. Faustina the wife of Claudius Lib. 4. The punishment of adultery De reip Gerevi praeceptis An impudent whoredome Messalina A Countrie fellow and his mistress Fabia Thimen Nevina A young Citizens wife A strange cure An unnaturall wife Faustina â—ife to Marcus Philosophus The birth of Commodus A notable Imopster Phaedima â—â—â—ceit discovered Adultery The wife of Otho the 3. Noble justice The birth of Alexander Lib. 14. * By Euridice and King Aristaeus 〈…〉 A miserable death A rare example of chastity Ethelburga A merry accident Aelian l. 7. Bias Prianaeus Pittacus Matilaenus Clâ—obuluâ— Lindius Peâ—tandâ— Corintâ—◠〈…〉 〈◊〉 Lâ—cedemâ— Thales Mâ—â—eliuâ— A true discourse The wife of Gengulphus Isabella Corumbona Friga Zoe Carlotta Deuteria Julia Grecâ— Eugenia Malentia Elfritha Emma A strange Tale. Justina Mariamnes Dosides Metheta Cleopatra Beronica Saloma Herodias The reward of Covetousnesse Tarpeia Acco Tulliota Junia Claudilla Agnodice Corona Theodosia How Welchmen come to be called Brittains Plutarch in Amatorâ— narrat Democrita Phillis Joannes Wyerius lib. 1. Cometho The daughters of Aristodemus Pheretrina Dyrce Antiopa Consinge Pyrene Gatis Atergatis Sygambes Semele Martia Helena Polyzo Acco Jocasta Bisalcia Zoe Austrigilda Serena Glausinda Fredegunda Fausta Lysides Melissa Auctoclea Antista Perimela Lymone Deuteria Leucothoe Lucilla Lychione Dyraptis Sabina Neaera Cleopatra Neaera and Charmione Monima Milesia Veronica Chya The Milesian Virgins Phaedra Two mothers The Hostlers Tale. Jesabel Dalila Athalia Helena Hippodam Ischomach Aspasia Chrysaeis Lavinia Arsinoe Anaxarite Berenice Nicostrate Hermione Polydices Plebe Ilairae Octavia Tullia Martia Teuca Fridegund Margarita Lib. 1. cap. de Amazonib The custome of the Scythians The brave acts of Scythians A base slight The first beginning of the Amazons Whence the name of Amazons was derived Marthesia Lampedo Orythia Menalippe Hyppolite Penthisilaea Minithra or Thalestris Harpalice Harpe A law among the Amazons * Venus * Cupid Of Feare Examples of Feare Deborae Helerna Meâ—abus Maria Puteolana Bona Longabarba Atalanta Three sorts of Furlongs The race of Hippomenes and Atlanta Candaces Lacena Valasca Bellovacae Amalasuntha Teuca Hasbites Tiburna Saguntina Zenobia Hypsicrataeae Artimesia Cleopatra Tomyris 〈◊〉 in a Prince A description of the Messagets Petr. Crinit lib. 1. cap. 11 Aulus Gel. A Sheep A Shrow 〈…〉 A pretty revenge Guendoline Elphleda * Toten Hall Elswina Maud. Another English Viâ—ago Joane de Are or de Pucil Emma Queen Margaret Sthenoboea Herodica Panthaea Theodole Suabilda Seritha Signis Bryseis Thargelia Molesia Anutis Timosa Zenopithia Patica Cipria Violentilla Agarista Hyppodamiâ— Sisigambis Praecia Roxana Aegina Antiopa Galataea Pisistratâ— amica Lib. 3. Athenae lib. 13. cap. 7. Athenae lib. 13. cap. 4. Lib. 3. Lib. 6. 8. Berseba Herodotus in Clio. â—â—lat 2. de Repub. Stowe Harding Estrilda Harding in Fabian Plut. Amat Narration Plutarch in Amatorio Chloris Aethra Danae Helenaâ— Auge The daughters of Danaeus * Venus Terentia Mecenatis Terentia Ciceronis A Vicarâ— daughter A faire witty Wench Vetustina Philenis Plut. in Apo. Caelius l. 24. c. 26. 〈◊〉 Plutarch in Lacoa Apo. Plut. Apo. Reg. Fulgos l 4. cap. 3. Erasmus l. 6. Apotheg Aegipta Ranulphus Marian. l. 2. Iohan. Wyerius de Lamiis lib. 3. Suidas Appâ—a Eustochium Tora Maria. Aegypt Columba Amata Sara Sylvia S. Ebbe Ildegunda Euphrosyna Marina Gunzonis Baldraca Scrytha Tara Dula Statyra Roxana Eâ—rusca Vâ—rgo Isabella Martia 〈…〉 〈◊〉 Daphne Rhodogune Theoxena Tyro Hypsicrataea Homer l. 1. Odyss Odyss lib 17 Perioch 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 Perioch 21. Perioch 22. Perioch 23. Evadne Loadamia Panthaea Sophronia Antonia Timoclea Brasilla Dyrrachina A woman of Casanova She was the contracted bride to the Prince Indiâ—ilis Anastasias Paula Romana Barbara Edeltrudis Edithae Susanna Judith Maud. Retana Panachis Quartilla Timandra Campaspe Satyrus in vitu Plin lib. 21. cap. 2. Pythonica Dicaearch de discensu ad Trophonium Irene Athenae Dipr. lib. 13. Lib. 12. Danae and Laodice Just. l. 30. Laodice Justin Hist lib. 12. Aâ—â—enaeus In Conegide Joan Bal. Act Eng. Votar Guliel 〈◊〉 lâ—b 2. de reg c Athen. in Dypnos In Agrestis In Novaculis Athen in Dypnes Hist liâ— 3. Lib. 3. Polemon de Var. Porticu Heraâ—l Lambus Histor l. 33 Lynceâ—s Comicus Prop. lib. 1. Origines Athenae Gimos lib. 13. cap. 18. Clearch in reb Amator Nicol. Damascen The maner of the Babylonians A poor man a Bear A cold countrey My Hostesses Lie â— Physitian Santius of Spain Philip of Macedon The wifeâ— the Marquess of Este The History of a Pious Daughter The love of mothers to their children Loving Mothers The mothers of Carthage The wife of Proclus The wife of Adiatoriges Friendship in women Examples of fraternall piety The wife of Intaphernes Times forbidden in Marriage Ceremonies before Marriage Of Contracts Of Nuptiall Dowries Of Nuptiall Gifts or Presents Nuptiall Ornaments The Bride comming out of her chamber The Bridegrooms first appearing The Nuptiall offering The Nuptiall Song A ceremony for them to casâ— Nuts about used amongst the Romans Their going 〈◊〉 Nuptiall Pomp. Alex. ab Alex. lib. 1. cap. 24. Hymns and Invocations Nuptiall Diet. Nuptiall Copulation Indian women Thracians Geates Catheoreans Herulians Winedi Of him camâ— the Nicolaâ—â—â— Of Age. The first drinking of Healths Gratitude * From him al rich and costly Arras Hangings are called Attalia Women that have dissembled their shape Women that hâ—ve changed their Sex * Barbiâ—os id est Carmen Lyricum * Alcaeus a Lyrick Poet of Myâ—elene * Nisea a mountainous country neer Aetna * Venus called so of Erix a mountain Sicily where she had a famous Temple * Choranus who doted on the famous strumpet Rhodope whom he bought of Aesopus for a great sum of money * Claeis a wanton daughter to Sapho * The tears of Mâ—rrha with which they used to perfume their hair * Philomela * Lothos the daughter of Neptune turnd into a 〈◊〉 so called * Ambracia a City in Epire so called of King Ambraces How the Devil rewards his servants The 〈…〉 Severall sorts of superstitious Jugling * From the Ilâ—nd of the â—velops where he thrust out Polyphemus his eie * Islands in the Sea so called 〈…〉 A Spanish Magician A Witch of Brill Lycaon who was transformed into a Wolfe A strange Witchcrafte Miraculous transformations She-Devils A Tale of a Witch A Witch of Geneva Another kind of Witchcraft Example of the like Witches called Extasists A strange kind of Witchcraft Things observed in Witches Cynarus Mirha The punishment of Incest The punishment of Adultery Fratricides The punishment of Fratricides â—arricides c. Punishment due to Regicides Punishments of unjust Divorce Whoredome punished Punishment of Loquacity Punishment of Lying Punishment of Perjury Aristotle cals this Fountain Acedinus Punishment of Prodigality and Excesse Punishment of Witchcraft Some say a Serpents egge Deut. 13. Levit. 24. Exod. â—0 22 Dâ—ut 13 27 Numb â—5 Levit. 21. Deut. 18. Deut. 18. Deut. 13. Ier. 5 12 9. Deut. 19. Honor and Reward to Fortitude * Orchestra a place in the Theater only for the nobility Honor due to Temperance Reward of Beauty * The Province belonging to Padua Bounty rewarded Charity rewarded A Convertire rewarded So called of Sabbea chiefe City of Arabia
then again he called him a Divine necessity Zeno Citteieus called him a divine and naturall Law and sometimes the Firmament Zenophanes Collophonius called him Whatsoever was infinite in a conjoined mind or one universall and every thing that as Theophrastus saith of him he imagined to be God Parmenides Eliates called him â—aâ—taâ—me or an apprehension of an Imaginary thing something resembling a Crown which the Greeks call 〈◊〉 conteining within it a fiery light an orb or girdle 〈◊〉 compasseth and embraceth the heavens adhering to â—his fantasie were Cicero and Simplicius Empedocles Agrigentinus he would have four natures of which all things should subsist and these he taught to be divine as also that they had birth and should see end for so Cicero writes in his book de natura deorum Theodorus and Epiphanius speak of one Theodorus sirnamed Atheos the Atheist He affirmed the gods to be meer ioies and not worthy of divine honours that would perswade men by their examples to theft perjury and rapine Protagoras Abderita was of opinion That it was not lawfull to enquire concerning the gods whether they were or were not or of what nature and quality Xenocrates Chalcedonius made eight gods in the wandring stars the number of five in the whole number of the Planets one a seventh in the Sun an eighth in the Moon Plato Atheniensis went more divinely to work who taught that it is neither the aire nor reason nor nature but that there is one only God by whom alone the world was fashioned and made perfect and miraculous Zenophon Socraticus held argument That the form of the true God was not visible and therefore his essence nor lawfull to be sought into Ariston the Sâ—oick affimed than God might be comprehended within his own substance Aristotle proposed That one Mind governed the whole world and that it was the prime and principall cause of all things Speâ—sippus constituted a naturall living power by which all things were governed and that he stil'd a Deity for so Arnob. in his eighth book reports Alâ—maeon Crotoniates did attribute a Deity to the Sun Moon and the rest of the Planets in his ignorance as Cicero speaks of him giving immortality to things meerly mortall Ecphantus Siracusanus as Erigines relates of him imagined the divinity to exist in the mind and soule Brachmanae who were the Indian wise men or Sophoi called it the Light but not as the splendour of the Sun or Air but the light of reason by which wise and understanding men might enquire into the dark and mysticall secrets of nature Lactantius and Cicero say that it was the opinion of the Stoicks for the most part That this instrumentall power was a divine substance intelligible and airy but wanting form yet to be transhap'd or made like to whatsoever it best pleased it selfe The same Philosophers attributed a god-hood to the stars and all other coelestiall bodies Heraclides Ponticus thought the World and the Mind both divine and was of opinion that this form of the Deity was mutable reducing the earth and the heavens within the compasse of Godhead Epicurus Atheniensis he made him gods of Atomes or Mâ—ats allowing them bodies differing from men but beaâ—ing humane form M. Terentius Varro supposed him to be the soule of the world and the world it selfe to be god Cicero defines him thus a certaine pure and free mind separate from all mortall commixtion ever moving and all things knowing and Origenes adhering to the opinion of Exilneus concludes that the gods are eveâ— during not subject to corruption and yet altogether without providence But lest I should grow tedious in the search of so many divers opinions which to some may appear impertinent to the tractate in hand yet not altogether unnecessary â—o such who have not travelled in the search of these Antiquities I will come neerer to the matter and to speak of the goddesses as we promised Hesiod hath left to memory that there are no lesse then thirty thousand gods within the compass of the world and every one have several predominance over men beasts fish fouls and al other creatures vegetative and sensitive Tertullian speaks of three hundred Joves or Jupiters counted by M. Varro Therefore it was not permitted amongst the Romans to adore any other gods or goddesses then such as were approved and allowed by the Senate In the books of the high Priest it was thus written Let no man bring in an innovation of any new gods or aliens to be privately adored unlesse they be publickly approved only such as have from antiquity been held coelestiall and unto whom Temples and Altars have been consecrated let none else have divine worship The Heathen of old amongst their goddesses counted these Pudicitia Concordia Mens Spes Honor Clementia and Fides that is Bashfulnesse Concord the Mind Hope Honour Clemency and Faith Pliny writes of a Temple in Rome dedicated to Honor. Certaine living creatures and other things were in the old time reverenced as gods The Trogloditae as the same author testifies worshipped a Tortoise The Aegyptians had in honour Garlick and Onyons they have the Crocodile likewise in divine adoration to whom they offer Sacrifice But the Ombytae chiefly a people of that Country by whom he is held most sacred and if it so happen that their children be by him devoured the parents rejoice imagining they are specially beloved of the gods that are thought worthy to beget food to please their appetites Serpents are honoured by the Phoenicians In Gadeta a City of Spain two Temples were erected the one to Age the other to Death to one as the Mistresse of Experience to the other as a quiet harbor or cessation from all miseries and calamities In other Cities were the like instituted to Poverty and to Fortune lest the one should afflict them and that the other should favour them Floods likewise and Rivers were esteemed as deities some portrai'd in the figure of men and others in the semblance of beasts Amongst the Lacedemonians as Plutarch relates Temples were edified one to Feare another to Laughter a third to Death The Aegyptians worshipped the Sun and Moon the goddesse Ibis a Cat an Eagle and a Goat The Syrians adored a Dove The Romans a Goose by reason that by the cackling of Geese the Capitoll was preserved from the sack Amongst the Thâ—â—alians it was held an offence Capitall to kill a Stork These that inhabite the Island Syâ—en 〈◊〉 the fish called Phaâ—os Those that dwell in Mâ—â—tis the fish Oxiringus In Ambracia a Lyonesse because in times past a Lyonesse seised upon a Tyrant and tore him to pieces by which they were restored to their ancient liberties Those that live by Delphos a Wolfe who by scraping up the earth discovered a great quantity of gold buried and till then concealed The men of Samos a Sheep the Argives a Serpent the Islanders of Tenedos a Cow with Calfe after whose conception they tender her as much service as to a
woman young with child A Dragon in Albâ— a grove just opposite against Juno's Temple was honoured by the Spaâ—â—ane virgins to which at certain times they went and fed him from their hands The Aegyptians had Asps likewise in great worship which they fostered and brought up together with their children The Thebans honoured a Sea Lâ—mprey There were gods called Medioxum dei or middle gods or which Plautus in his Cistellaria makes mention Isa me dei deaeque superi inferi mediorum as the gods and goddesses supernall or infernall or those betwixt them both c. He speaks likewise of Dii potellarii such as had power over the dishes that were used in Sacrifices to which Ovid hath reference in this verse 〈◊〉 Missos Vestae pura paâ—ella cibos The clean platter presents those cates sent to Vesta And Plautus in another place Dii me omnes magni minuti patellarii c. There be others called Semones who have domination over as much as lies open from the middle Region of the air to the earth and they are called by us semi-dei or halfe-gods Fulgenâ—â—â—â— cals those Semones that for the poverty of their desert are not worthy a place in the heavens Amongst whom he reckons Priapus Hippo and Vertumnus In Italy there were divers others called Dii municipales as belonging to private men in Cities not called into any publike office as amongst the Crustuminians Delventâ—nus amongst the Narnienses Viridiarius amongst the Astrulanians Ancharia amongst the Volcinienses Nortia But now of the Goddesses in order Of the Goddesses Coelestiall and first of JUNO IVNO is the daughter of Saturn the Queen of the gâ—ds and chiefe of those that are called Coelestiall The wife and sister of Jupiter goddesse of Power and Riches and soveraignesse of marriage and all conjugall contracts The Festivals kept in her honour were called Herea which was a name appropriated to her own person so Enneus saith as Cicero cites him in his first book of offices Vos ne velit an me regnarâ— Hera Will the Mistresse have you to raign or me where some take Herae for Fortune One of her Priests as Virgil testates was Calibe of whom he thus speaks Fit Calibe Junonis anus templique sacerdos The old woman Calibe was Priest in Juno's Temple Ovid in his second book Metamorph. nominates Alcinoe Ante tamen cunctos Junonis Templa colebat Proque viro qui nullus erat veniebat ad Aras Alcinoe before the rest did Juno's Temple grace And for a man for men were none had at her Altar place She was honoured most in the City of Carthage the chiefe City of Affrica of which Virgil in his first book AeneiÌ„ad thus speaks Quam Juno fertur terris magis omnibus unam Posthabita Coluisse Samo Which only saith he Juno is reported to prefer before all other Countries even Samos it selfe Statius in his first book Theb. saith that she was much honoured in the City called Prosimna but in Samos an Island compast in with the Icarian sea she was chiefly celebrated as said to be there noursed in her infancy In Argos and Mâ—cene two chiefe Cities of Achâ—ia she was likewise much honoured as their Queen and Patronesse for so Horace affirms lib. 1 Carmin Ovid in his 6. book De fastis saith that the people called Phalisci have her in great adoration calling them Junonicoli as those that honour Juno Of ther chastity majesty her brawling and chiding with Iupiter her revenge upon his strumpets and bastards divers things have been diversely commented of which I will insist upon some few Iuno having in suspition Semele the daughter of Cadmus and Hermione to have been often prostituted by Iupiter she changed her selfe into the shape of her Nurse Beroe perswading her that she should beg of him That he would grace her so much as to lie with her in the same state and majesty with which he bedded Iuno that as his power and potency was great above all so her 〈…〉 wantonnings might be remarkable above others which he unwillingly granting and she as unfortunately obtaining was the occasion that she with her Pallace were both consumed in 〈…〉 and thunders It is related of Iuno further that when she and her husband being reconciled and pleasantly discoursing held argument betwixt themselves Whether in the act of generation men or women took the greatest delight and that by joint consent their controversie was to be determined by Tyâ—esias one that had been of both Sects Tyâ—esias giving up his censure That women were by nature the most wanton her sport turned into spleen and her mirth into such madnesse that she instantly bereâ—vâ—d him of his sight and strook him blind to recompence which losse Iupiter inspired him with the spirit of Divination and Prophesie to which her continued anger further added That howsoever he truly prophesied yet his presages should never be beleeved Alomena too growing great of Hercules and ready to be delivered she taking on her the shape of a Beldame sate her down before her own Altar with her knees crossed and her hands clutched by which charme she stopped the passage of her child-birth which Gallantis espying and apprehending as it was indeed that to be the occasion why her Lady could not be delivered she bethought her of a craft to prevent the others cunning for leaving Alomena in the middest of her throwes she assumes a counterfet joy and with a glad countenance approcheth the Altar to thank the gods for her Ladies safe delivery Which Iuno â—o sooner heard but up she riseth and casts her armes abroad her knees were no sooner uncrost and her fingers open but Alomena was cased and Hercules found free passage into the world Gallantis at this laughing and Iuno chasing to be thus deluded she afflicted her with an unheard of punishment by transhaping her into a Weesill whose natiue is to kindle at the mouth that from the same jawes with which she had lied to the gods about Alomena's child be 〈◊〉 she should ever after bring forth her young No lesse was her hatred to all the posterity of Cadmus for when Agave had lost Penthaeus and Antinoe Actaeon and Sâ—mele had been consumed by Ioves thunders and there remained onely two Athames and Ino she possest them both with such madnesse that he being on hunting transpierc'd his sonne Lâ—â—â—chus mistaking him for the game he chased and Ino snatcht up young Melicertes and with him cast her selâ—e down headlong into the Sea from the top of an high promontory But at the intercession of Venus who was born of the waves Neptune was pleased to rank them in the number of the Sea-gods so that Melicertes is called Palaemon and Ino Iaeucothoe I could further relate of many other poeticall Fables as of Ixion who enterteined and feasted by Iupiter attempted to strumpet Iuno and adulterate the bed of Iupiter which to prevent and shun the violence of a rape she fashioned a Cloud into her own
similitude and semblance which Ixion mistaking for Iuno of that begot the Centaurs As also the birth of her son Vulcan and her daughter Eccho he lame and she so deformed that being ashamed to shew her selfe or appear to the eies of any she hath so conceal'd her selfe in thick woods and hollow vaults and caverns that never any part of her could ever yet be discovered more then her voice Yet 〈◊〉 shew that in all these seeming Fables golden meanings were intended I wil briefly thus illustrate them Iuno was therefore called the daughter of Saturn because the world was created by God the great work-master of Nature Then in his course was Time born from thence 〈◊〉 which is whatsoever is above the Element of Fire the Firmament or the Sâ—y and next that the Elements The highest 〈◊〉 Iupiter is Aër namely Iuno the moderatresse of the life of man by whom the treasures of rain and ball are disposed and governed of the air waxing hot are generated creatures trees and plants c. whose temperature hath an influence in the bodies and minds of reasonable creatures therefore when from water Aer is next begot she is said to be nourisht by Oceanus and Thetis when the force of the Element works with the Aer in the procreation of creatures she is then said to be the wife of Iupiter when shee is changed into fire then she brings forth Vulcan when the benignity of the air hath cooperation with such things as are generated she is then stiled the goddesse of marriage So likewise it is said of Ixion that for attempting the bed of Iupiter he was from heaven cast down into hell which some would bring within the compasse of history But that he is there tortured upon a wheel incessantly turning round must needs include morality Most probable it is that Ixion disgrac'd and banisht from the Court of that King whose wife he had sought to adulterate was thereby made of all men the most wretched and miserable as one excruciated with perpetuall ambition and envy for such as under the imaginary Idea of vertue apprehend the reality of vain glory they can attempt nothing good nothing sincere or laudable but all their actions are criminall irregular and meerly absurd importing thus much That their estates can have no continuance that by sinister and indirect courses seek to climb to the height and crown of glory Cybele SHE is the wife of Saturne and is called the mother of the gods Her Chariot is drawn with Lions To her Ida and Dindymus two mountains of Phrygia were sacred whereupon Virgil saith Alma parens Idaea deûm cui Dindyma sacer From that place she is called Dindymene by Martial Non per mystica sacra Dindymenes Not by the mysticall oblations of Cybele In Phrygia the Ministers of this goddesse called Galli kept certain feast daies in her honour after the manner of Fencers or Gladiators contending amongst themselves even to the shedding of much blood which when they saw to flow plentifully about their heads and faces they ran to a certain flood not far thence sacred to the goddesse and in that washt both their wounds and weapons the like did the Romans in Almo a River neer to Rome the eleventh of the Calends of April which Valerius Flaccus remembers Sic Vbi Migdonios Planctus sacer abluit Almo Letaque jam Cybele Where Almo the Migdonian knocks laves off And Cybele now rejoyceth Reate as Sylius saith a City in Umbria is sacred to her so is Berecinthus a mountain in Phrygia of whom shee takes the name of Berecynthia Apuleius lib. 11. cals her Pesinuntica of Pesinuntium a City among the Phrygians Ovid in his Metamorph. amongst her Priests reckons up Alphitus and Virgil in his 11. book Choreus Melissa was a woman Priest of whom all that succeeded her were called Melâ—ssae Plutarch in Mar. nominates one Barthabaces Perea tempora c. About thoâ—e times came Barthabaces Priest to the great mother of the gods saying she had spoken to him in her Temple and predicted victory This Cybele is likewise called Vesta and Rea. The rights of her sacrifices performed in her honour Ovid in his Fastis thus expresseth Of old with tinckling sounds did Ida ring But weakly as young Infants cry or sing Some beat their Bucklers some their empty casks For this of Cybeles Priests the labour asks The mysterâ—'s conceall'd yet still remains An imitation of those ancient straines Cymbals for Helms for Targets Timbrils play The Phrygian Pipe still sounds as at that day Her Priests were called Curetes and Corybantes as also Idaei Dactili who like mad-men wagging their heads and playing on Cimbals ran about the streets provoking others to do the like They came from Ida in Phrygia into Creet in which Island they call'd a hill by the name of Ida. The Poets who in their Fables hid all the mysteries of learning as the Aegyptians in their Hieroglyphicks by the mother of the gods would have us thus much understand That when they meant to signifie to our apprehensions that the earth as the stability of the world and firmament of all naturall bodies from whence all things born had beginning they therefore Cybele or Vesta the mother of the gods and to her sacrifices brought all the first fruits of the earth as due to her Further to expresse the nature of the earth many things have from antiquity been remembred touching her for Rhea signifies the force or strength of the earth who passeth and shifteth piercing into the generation of things Venus SOme report her to be born of the Nymph Dione daughter to Oceanue and Thetis Others that she was borne of the foam or froth of the sea She is the goddesse of Love the wife of Vulcan the sweet heart of Mars the mother of Cupid and the Graces She goes armed with Torches and bound about with a marriage girdle Her chariot is drawn by Swans as Juno's with Peacocks as Ovid in his tenth book Metamorph. Iunctisque per Aëâ—a Cignâ—â— Carpit iter With yoaked Swans she travels through the aire The like witnesseth Horace Statius Silvius and others The places to her most sacred were Amathus an Isle in the Sea Aegeum of which she took the name of Amathusa or Amathusis She was honoured in Cyprus and especially in Paphos a City of that Isle likewise in Memphis where she had a Temple of Cyprus she had the denomination of Cypria Cypris and Cyprigena of Paphos Paphia of Gnydos Gnydia Pliny reports that Praxitiles was nobilitated for his graving of Marble but especially for the Statue of Gnidian Venus The Idalian woods the Ciclides and the hill Cythera were to her sacred Of Erix a mountain in Sicilia she was called Erecina as Horat. Carmin lib. 1. Sive tu mavis Erecina ridens Concerning her love to Mars and his mutuall affection to her it is frequent amongst the Poets only I will introduce Ovid in his second book de arte amandi Fabula
together in their fall Whilst all the Potters quake with such a ruine As when huge masts are split and crackt withall The warring winds the seamans wrack pursuing In such a tempest let the Chimnies shatter And the vast frame within its basses sink Whilst 'bout their cars the tiles and rafters clatter That all their pipkins steaâ— and pots for drink And other uses may be crusht to pouder And so convert again into that mire Whence they were forg'd Or if a horror lowder May be devis'd here vent thy worst of ire Else let that Witch that cals Apollo father Who can from hell the blackest furies call And her infectious drugs and poisons gather And sprinkle them on work-men work and all Let Chiron to this forge his Centaurs bring All that survived the battell ' gainst Jove's son That they these pots against the wals may ding And all their labours into ruine run Till what they see he nothing and these here Spectators of this wrack may howl and yell And their great losse lament with many a teare Whilst I may laugh aloofe and say 't was well And to conclude that he that next aspires But to come nere the furnace where they stand May be the fuel to these raging fires And be consum'd to ashes out of hand So may the rest that shall escape this danger Be warn'd by these how to deride a stranger That the former writers might demonstrate unto us That humane actions are not altogether so governed by the force coelestiall but that there is some place left open for mans prudence and wisedome and besides to deliver unto us how acceptable the knowledge of good things is to him who is the giver of all graces they therefore left this expression to posterity that Wisedome was the daughter of Jupiter and born without a mother since God is only wise and men not so but meerly in a similitude or shadow Therefore to manifest the power of Wisdome they feigned her to come into the world armed because the wise man respects not the injuries of Fortune nor puts his trust in any worldly felicity further then by counsell and patience to subdue the one and moderate the other stil placing his hopes in that fountaine from whence she first proceeded Next because the feare of the Lord is the beginning of Wisedome she is said to have combated Giants the sonnes of the earth such as in that Gigomantichia would have pluckt Jupiter out of his throne by which are intended the presumptions of nature and the insolencies of men who all service and adoration to the divine powers neglected are not affraid to make insurrection against heaven it selfe I may therefore conclude that all humane wisedome different against the divine will is vain and contemptible since the good man is onely wise and in the grace and favour or his Maker Diana SHE is the daughter of Iupiter and Latona the goddesse of Virginity and Chastity In the heaven she is called Luna the Moon in the earth Diana in Hell or amongst the Infernals Prosâ—erpina of which three-fold power she is called Triformis and Triula The places sacred to her were as Valerius Flaccus affirms Parthenius a flood of Paphlagonia She with her brother Apollo was born in Cinthus a mountain hanging over Delos of whom Statius saith they are both called Cinthii In Ephesus a City of Ionia or Lydia she had a magnificent Temple numbred amongst the seven wonders of the world In Bauron a City of Attica she was likewise honoured And as Lucan testates in Taurus a mountain in Sicily and as Virgil in Delos Notior ut canibus non jam sit Delia nostris Not Delia to our dogs is better known Horace reports her to have two mountains in Italy dedicated to her deity Aventinus and Algidus In her sacrifices a Hart was stall offered at her Altar and dogs or hounds as Ovid writes Extra canum Triviae vidi mactare Sabaeos Et quicunque tuas accolit Haeme Nyves The Sâ—baeans and the Thessalians inhabiting the snowie mountain Haemus used dogs in their oblations Of her Temple at Ephesus it shall not be amiss to speak a word or two by the way Plutarch in his book De vitando Aere alieno saith that the Temple of Diana was a Sanctuary wherein all debtors were safe from their creditors As the Vestals of Rome had the time of their service distinguished into three parts in the first to learn the mysteries of Vesta in the second to do the ceremonies and in the third to instruct others that were ignorant So amongst the Priests of Diana in Ephesus the first order of them gave them the name of Melieres that is to be capable of the Priesthood but not admitted the second was Hieres that was in present office the third Parieres that was dead from the service This stately and magnificent structure was first erected by the Amazons so beautifull and sacred that when Xerxes had with sword and fire wasted and demolisht all the Temples of Asia he spared only that as the richest jewell of the world It is reported of one Herostratus a wicked and debauch'd fellow who finding in himselfe nothing good to preserve his memory and willing that his name should live to posterity set this Temple on fire for no other purpose but that he would be talkt on the Ephesians understanding this his malicious ambition they made it death once to name him Cornelius Nepos writes that the same night that this famous structure was ruin'd and defaced by fire Alexander was born in Pella in the three hundred and eighth yeare after the building of Rome so that at the extinguishing of one light of the world another was kindled It being demanded of one of Diana's Priests Why Diana being a goddess would suffer her Temple to be utterly destroied and what she was a doing the while It was answered again That it was done unawares to the goddess for she was that night at the labour of Olympias and busied about bringing Alexander into the world Notwithstanding this great ruine the people of Ephesus caused it to be re-erected and made both richer and more beautifull than before of which work Dinocrates an Architectour of Macedonia was chiefe Diana as Plutarch in his Symposaicon saith is called Elitheia or â—ucina as also Locheia as goddessâ— of child-birth she is called also Dictiana And in his Solertia animalium that Apollo would be called Lycoconos and Diana Multicida Elaphibolos The one for killing so many wolves the other Harts Amongst the Aegyptians she is called Bubastis she is celebrated witnesse Herodotus amongst the Thressae and the Peloniates amongst the Bizantians she hath the name of Diana Orthosia The Poets fain that she is continually exercised in hunting for no other reason but to instruct and incourage all such as professe virginity to shun sloath and idlenesse so Ovid Otia si tollas periere cupidinis areus Take sloth away and Cupids how unbends His brands â—â—â—inguish
from house to house to demand things necessary for her Offerings For the Greek word Meter signifieth Mater or Mother and Agartes Praestigiator or Mendicus a Jugler or Beggar She was call'd by divers names as Proserpina Isis Cybele Idea Berecâ—â—thia Tellus Rhaea Vesta Pandora Phrigia Pylena Dindymena and Pessinuntia sometimes of the places sometimes of the causes Rhaea bearing young Jupiter in her womb and ready to be delivered knowing the predicted cruelty of Saturn who commanded him to be slain retired her selfe to Thaumasius a mountain in Arcadia fortified by Hoptodamus and his fellow giants lest Saturn should come with any forcible hostility to oppresse her this mountain was not far distant from the hill Molossus in a part of Lysia where Jupiter was born and Saturn there deluded into which place it is not lawfull for any man to enter only women Lucian in Nigrino saith that the Phrygian pipe was only sufficient to yield musick to her sacrifices for that was no sooner heard but they fell into a divine rapture resembling madnesse neither was the Pine only sacred to her but the Oake as witnesseth Apollodorus Euphorion attributes to her the Vine because out of that wood her Effigies was alwaies cut Apollonius left recorded that the Milesian Priests accustomed first to sacrifice to Taetia and Silaenus and after to Rhaea the mother of the gods whose altars were deckt and adorned with Oaken bowes By Rhaea is meant the earth or that strength of the earth which is most pertinent and available in the generation of things She is drawn in a Charriot because the globe of the earth hangs in the middle of the aire without supporture neither inclining or declining to one part or another and that by nature About her chariot are wild beasts the reason is she is the producter and nourisher of all creatures whatsoever Deservedly she wears a Crown of Towers and Turrets being the Queen and Mistresse of so many Towns Castles and Cities By the noise of musick and clamours at her sacrifices is observed the whistling and blustring of the winds who are necessary in all the affairs of nature especially in heat and cold bearing the showers and tempests to and fro upon their wings to make foul weather in one place and a cleer skie in another Her Chariot is drawn with four Lions which imports those foure brothers which blow from the Orient the Austrâ—ll the Occident and the Septentrion these are said to be her Coach steeds and hurry her from place to place because in generation they are much availing therefore 〈◊〉 all things as from a fountaine derive their originall and beginning from her she is most pertinently called Râ—aea à sluendo of flowing Isis or Io. She was the daughter of the flood Iâ—achâ—s and as Andraetas Tiâ—â—dius leâ—t written was no better then a strumpet who by sorcery and witchcraft sought to attract the love of Jupiter in which businesse she used the assistance of Inyae the daughter of Pan and Eccho or 〈…〉 will have it of Suadela this being dâ—scovered to Juno she changed her into a bird which still bearet her name Inyx which is frequently used amongst witches in their sorceries and incaâ—tations who because she moveth her taile so much and so often is by the Latines called Motasilla from the intrails of this bird with other ingredients was made a confection which they say Jason gave to Medaea to inâ—mâ—urate her in that expedition which he made to Col hos this Ione or Io by the cunning of Inyx lay with Jupiter in a clowd and after to conceal her from Iuno he transhap'd her into a Cow but this jugling being discovered by Iuno she begg'd her as a gift and gave her in custody to Argus the sonne of Aristor whose hundered eies Mercury by the commandement of Jupiter having charmed asleep he cut off his head and so slew him In these distractions she past the Ionian sea which from her beares the name though Theompus and Archidamus rather are of opinion that that Sea took his denomination from Ionius an eminent man of Illyria from thence she came to Haemus and transwasted thence to a gulfe of Thracia which by her was called Bosphorus There were two Bosphori the one called Cimnerius the other Thracius so much Prometheus speaks in his Escilus she past thence into Scythia and traicting many seas that divide and run by Europe and Asia came at length into Aegypt and by the banks of Nilus reassumed her humane shape and this hapned neer the City Iax so called of Io after which she brought forth Epaphus as Strabo writes in a cavern or den in Eubaea by the Aegean sea shore which place is to this day called Aula Bovis That she past all these seas in the shape of a Cow the meaning is that the ship wherein she sailed had the image of a Cow caryed upon the stern and therefore was so called By Argus with so many eies was intended Argus a wise and provident King of the Argives whom Mercury having slaine released her from his servitude After all her transmarine navigations being the most beautifull of her time she was espoused to Apis King of the Aegyptians and by reason she taught them in that Countrie the profitable usury arising from agriculture was esteemed by them a goddesse whose statue her foâ— Aepaphus after he had builded Memphis the great City caused to be erected Some more ingeniously and divinely withall say that Isca by which name the first woman and wife of Adam was called imports to more than Isis whom the Aegyptianâ— honoured as the great and most ancient goddesse and mother of mankind for the Latines and Greeks corrupt the pronuntiation and eâ—ymology of the word speaking Isis for Issa or Isca Therefore as Isca is the wise of our great grandfather Adam so by the ancient tradition of the Aegyptians Isis was the wife of Ossidis whom the Latines call Osirides transferring the Aegyptian Euphony to their own Idioma or proper form of speech Ate. Ate whom some call Laesio is the goddesse of Discord or Contention and by Homer termed the daughter of Iupiter Ate prisca proles quae laeserit omnes Mortales Ate the ancient off spring that hath hurt and harmed all Mankind He cals her a certaine woman that to all men hath been obnoxious and perilous alluding no doubt to the parent of us all Eve that first transgressed and by some reliques of truth with which he was enlightned for he saith Filia prima Iovis quaeque omnes perdidit Ate Perniciosa As much to say Pernitious Ate the eldest daughter of Jupiter who hath lost us all In another fable he alludes to the same purpose where he saith Iupiter notwithstanding he was the most wise of all mortals yet was in daies of old tempted and deceived of his wife Iuno And this Homer hath plainly delivered that the beginning of evill came first from a woman and by her the wisest of
men was beguiled Hesiod in his book of Weeks and Daies is of the same opinion and writes to the same purpose but in another kind of fable from the old tradition For saith he From Pandora a woman of all creatures the most fairest and first created by the gods all mischiefs whatsoever were dispers'd through the face of the whole earth And though Palephatus in his fabulous narrations and Pleiades Fulgentius in his Mythologicis otherwise interpret Pandora yet Hesiodus is still constant in the same opinion as may appear in these verses Namque prius vixere Homines verum absque labore Absque malis morboque gravâ— tristique senecta At mulier rapto de poclo â—egmine spâ—â—rsit Omne mali genus morbos curasque molestas Which I thus interpret Man liv'd at first from tedious labours free Not knowing ill or grievous maladie Nor weak and sad old age till woman mad Snatcht from the pot the cover which it had Sprinkling thereby on mankind every ill Trouble disease and care which haunts us still Therefore the same author in his Theogonia as Cyrillus testifies in his third book against Iulian and in the beginning of the book cals women Pulchrum malum The faire evill Pandora Of her thus briefly the better to illustrate the former Hesiod tels us that Promaetheus upon a time offered two Oxen to Iupiter and having separated the flesh of either from the bones in one of the skins including all the flesh without bones in the other all the bones without any part of the flesh and artificially making them up again bad Iupiter make choise of these which he would have imploied in his sacrifices who chused that with the bones and taking it in great rage to be thus deluded he to be revenged took away all fire from the earth thereby to inflict the greater punishment upon mankind But Prometheus by the assistance of Minerva ascended heaven and with a dried cane or reed kindled at the Charriot of the Sun unknown to Iupiter brought fire down again upon the earth which Horace expresseth in these words Aâ—dax Iapeti Genus Ignem 〈◊〉 malu gentibus intulit The bold 〈◊〉 of Japetus By his had fraud brought fire again among the nations This when Iupiter understood he instantly commanded Vulcan to fashion a woman out of clay who being the most subtle and best furnisht with all kind of arts so indued by the gods was therefore efore called Pandora Pausanias tearms her the first created of that sex she was by Iupiter sent to Prometheus with all the mischiefes that are included in a box which he denying she gave it to Epimetheus who taking off the cover or lid and perceiving all these evils and disasters to rush out at once he scarce had time to shut it againe and keep in Hope which was the lowest and in the bottome The purpose of the Poets in this as I can guesse is that since Pandora signifies all arts all sciences all gifts it imports thus much for our better understanding That there is no mischiefe or evill happens to man which proceeds not from a voluptuous life which hath all the arts to her ministers and servants for from them Kings were first instituted and raised to their honours by them were plots stratagems supplantations and dangerous innovations attempted with them grew emulation and envy discord and contention thefts spoiles wars slaughters with all the troubles cares vexations and inconveniences belonging and hereditary to mankind Of the Marine Goddesses IN these as in the former I will study to avoid all prolixity because I am yet but at the start of the race and measure in my thoughts the tediousnesse of the way I am to run before I can attain the goale intended and therefore thus desperately from the Earth I leap into the Sea direct me O ye Marine goddesses and Amphitrite first Amphitrite JVpiter having expelled Saturn from his Kingdome by the help of his brothers Neptune and Pluto and having cast â—â—ts for the tripartire Empire the Heaven fell to Iupiter Hell to Pluto and the Sea with all the Isles adjacent to Neptune who solliâ—iced the love or Amphitrite but she not willing to condescend to his amorous porpose he imploied a Dolphin to negotiate in his behalfe who dealt so well in the businesse theâ— they were not only reconciled but soone after married For which in the parpetuall memory of so great and good an office done to him he placed him amongst the stars not far from Capricorn as Higinus hath left remembred in his Fables and Aratus in his Astronomicks others contend that Venilia was the wife of Neptune but notwithstanding his love to and marriage with Amphicrite he had many children by other Nymphs Goddesses and wantons Of Lyba he begot Phaenix Betus and Agenor of Cataeno Cataenus of Amimone Nauplius of Pylanes of whom a City of Lacoonia bears name Avadne and Aone from whom the province of Aonia takes his denomination Phaenix that gave the name to Phaenicia and Athon of whom the mountain is so called as also Pheaces from whence Pheacia now called Corcyrus is derived Dorus that gives name to the Dorii and of Laides the daughter of Otus Althepus by Astipataea he had Periclimenus and Erginus by Alccone the daughter of Atlas Anathamus Anthas and Hyperetes by whom certain Cities amongst the Trezenians were erected and from them took their name Of Arne he had Boetus of Alope the daughter of Certion Hippothous of Câ—clusa Asopus of Brilles Orion He begot the Tritons one of Celaene the other of 〈◊〉 of Tyrho Palaemon and 〈◊〉 of Molio Crâ—atus and Eâ—ithus of Crisigone the daughter of Almus 〈◊〉 of Melantho Delphus of 〈…〉 of Venus Erix of Alistra Ogigus of Hippothee Tapâ—â—â—us he had one Cygnus by Caces another by Scamaâ—drodices by Tritogenia the daughter of Aeolus Minyas of the Nymph Midaea Aspledones of Cleodora Pernasus of Mâ—cioâ—ca to whom as Asclepeades relates he granted a Booâ— that shee should walk as firmly and stedfastly upon the water as the land Euripilus and Euphemus Besides these he 〈◊〉 another Euphemus that was steers man in the Argo when all the brave Heroes of Greece made their expedition for the golden fleece As also Amicis Albion 〈…〉 Amphimanus Aethusa Aon Alebius Dercilus 〈…〉 and Astraeus who ignorantly having been 〈◊〉 with his sister Aleyppa and the next day their 〈◊〉 of blood and affinity being known to him by a 〈…〉 himselfe headlong into a river and was drowned which 〈…〉 Leo Bizantius writes was first from him called 〈◊〉 and after Caius of Caicus the sonne of Mercury and 〈◊〉 moreover these were his children Actoâ—on 〈◊〉 Bromes Busyris Certioâ— Crocon Cromos Crysoos 〈◊〉 Chrisogenaea Crius Dorus Euphemus Ircaeus Lelex Lamia the Prophetesse and Sâ—billa Hallerhoitius Laestrigone Mâ—garaeus Mesaâ—us Ephialtes Nictaeus Melion Nausithous Oâ—hus Occipite Poliphemus Piracmoa Phorcus Pelasgus Phaeax Pegasus Phocus Onchestus Peratus Siculus Sicanus Steropes Farus Theseus Haretus
and others infinite besides fourescore whose names are remembred there are others scarce to be numbered for as Zetzes saith in his History Elatos animo enim omnes omnes strenuos Filios amicos dicunt amatos à Neptuno All that are high minded and strong men were esteemed as the sons and friends and beloved of Neptune Amphitrite signifies nothing else but the body and matter of all that moist humour which is earth above below or within the earth and for that cause she is called the wife of Neptune Euripides in Cyclope takes her for the substance of water it self Orpheus cals her Glaâ—cae and Piscosa that is blew and ful of fish being attributes belonging solely to the goddesse of the Sea And by the Dolphins soliciting the love of Neptune to Amphitrite and reconciling them is meant nothing else but to illustrate to us That of all the fishes that belong to the sea he is the swiftest the most active and apprehensive Thetis or Tethies HEsiod cals her the wife of Oceanus who is stiled the father of all the floods creatures and gods because as Orpheus Thales and others are of opinion all things that are bred and born have need of humour without which nothing can be beget or made corruptible Isacius hath left recorded that besides her he had two wives Partenope and Pamphoâ—â—â—e by Parâ—â—nope he had two daughters Asia and Libia by Pampholige Europa and Thracia and besides them three thousand other children for so many Hesiod numbers in his Theogonia This Thetis was the daughter of the earth and heaven and therefore as Oceanus is called the father of the 〈◊〉 so is she is esteemed as the mother of the goddesses 〈◊〉 cals one Thetis the daughter of Chiâ—on the Câ—ntaure and Homer in his hymn to Apollo the child of Nereus which 〈◊〉 confirms as also Euripides in Aphigema and in 〈◊〉 she was the wife of Peleus and of all women living the most beautiâ—â—ll of whom Apollodorus thus speaks They say Iupiter and Neptune contended about her Nuptias but she not willing to incline to Iupiter be-because because she was educated by Juno therefore he in his rage allotted her to be the bride of a mortall man Homer writes that she was angry being a Marine goddesse to be the wife of a man therefore to avoid his embraces she shifted her selfe into sundry shapes and 〈◊〉 but Peleus being advised by Chiron notwithstanding all her transformations as into 〈◊〉 into a Lion and others never to let go his hold till she returned into her own naturall form in which he vitiated her and of her begot Aâ—â—illes the last shape she took upon her was a Sepia which is a fish called a Cuttle whose blood is as black as ink now because this was done in Magnesia a City of Thessaly the place as Zertzes in his history records is called Sepias Pithenaetus and others say that she was not compelled or forced to the marriage of Peleus but that it was solemnized in the mountain Pelius with her full and free consent where all the gods and goddesses saving Discord were present and offered at the wedding for such hath been the custome from antiquity Pluto gave a rich Smaragd Neptune two gallant steeds Xanthus and Ballia Vulcan a knife with an hast richly carved and some one thing and some another By Peleus she had more sons then Achilles which every night she used to hide beneath the fire that what was mortall in them might be consumed by which they all died save Achilles who was preserved by being in the day time annointed with Ambrosia therefore as Amestor in his Epithalamium upon Thetis 〈◊〉 relates he was called Piresous as preserved from the fire additur hinc nâ—men Piresous She was the sister of Titaa and brought forth Ephire who was after married to 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 who as Ovid relates in his book de Fastâ— was the 〈…〉 Atlas These are likewise numbred amongst the daughters of Oceanus and Thetis Acaste Admete Asia that gave name to a part of the world till now called Asia Climâ—ne Idyâ—a Ephire Eudora Eurâ—ome Jamra 〈…〉 Plexame Primno Rhodia Thea Thoe 〈…〉 who was beloved of Apollo but being jealous or his affection to Leucothoë she had discovered it to her father Orchamus Apollo therefore left her in griefe of which she vowed an abstinence from all sustenance whatsoever onlâ— with fixt eies still gazing upon the course of the Sun which the gods commiserating changed her into an Helâ—â—aropiâ—n which is called the Suns flower which still inclines to what part soever he makes his progresse But whether she be Tethies or Thetis she is no other than the reputed goddesse of the Sea her name importing that huge masse of water or element as Virgil in his Pollio saith necessary to the generation of all creatures whatsoever Towards the East she is called Indica towards the West Atlanticaâ— where she divides Spain and Mauritania towards the North Pontica and Glaciatis as likewise Rubra and Aethopica for so Strabo relates as also Rhianus in the navigation of Hanno the Carthaginian Stiphilus in his book de Thessalia hath bequeathed to memory That Chiron a wise and skilfull Astrologian to make Peleus the more famous consulted with the daughter of Acloris and Mirmidon and betwixt them published abroad that he by the consent of Jupiter should match with the goddesse Thetis to whose nuptials all the gods came in great showers and tempests for he had observed a time when he knew great store of raine would fall and from that the rumour first grew That Peleus had married Thetis But Dailochus and Pherecides report that Peleus having purged himself of the murder of his brother Phocus murdered Antigone others say that he first took Antigone and after her death Thetis and that Chiron being an excellent Chirurgeon was so called for the lightnesse and dexterity of hand which is an excellent gift in the searching and dressing of wounds in any of that profession Apollodorus saith that Thetis after many windings and turnings and transhapes to preserve her virginity was at length comprest by Iupiter The Nymphs called Dorides were her Ministers and handmaids Nereides THey were the daughters of Nereus and Doris he is said by Hesiod to be the son of Oceanus and Thetis he is stiled a Prophet or South saier who as Horace tels us did predict to Paris all the calamities that were to succeed at Troy Apollonius tels us that his chiefe mansion or place of residence is in the Aegean sea The same is that Hercules being sent to fetch the golden apples of the Hesperides and not knowing where abouts they grew went to the Nymphs that dwel by the banks of Eridamus to be resolved by them they sent him to demand of Nereus who thinking to delude him by shifting himselfe into sundry shapes was notwithstanding held so fast by Hercules that he was forced to assume his own
form againe and tell him for so Oâ—pheus in his Aâ—gonauticis informs us He is said to have a principality in the sea to be delighted in the company of Nymphs and Damosels as also to be the beginning and end of waters of whom Oâ—pheus in one of his hymns thus sings Tu fundamen aquae tu terrae Finis Idem Principium es cunctis Euripides in one of his Tragedies saith he was educated and noursed by the waters and cals him the father of the Nereides He had daughters by Doris the Nymphs Halia Spio Pasitaea and Lygaea Hesiod in his Theogonia reckons of them to the number of fifty Doris was the sister of Nereus Horace and others describe her with green haire Theocritus in Thessaliis saith that the birds called Halciones were to them most gratefull some say that they use to dance and revell in the waters and play about the chariot of Triton as nimbly as fishes Homer in his Iliads reckons of that ranck Glauce Thalia Cymodoce Nesea Spio Thoe Halie Cymothoe Actaee Melite Agane Amphithoe Iaere Doto Proto Pherusa Dinamione Doris Amphinome Panope Callianira Dexamine Galaâ—aea Amathaea Callianassa Climine Ianira Ianassa Mera Orithia Hesiod besides these reckons up Euerate Sao Eudore Galene Glauce Pasithaea Erato Eunice Doro Pherusa Nesaee Protomedea Doâ—is Panope Hippothoe Hypponoe Cymatolege Cimo Eione Halimeda Glanconome Panto Pautopenia Liagore Evagore Laomedala Pâ—lâ—nome Anâ—onoe Lasianassa Evarne Psamathe Menippe Neso Eupompe Themito Pronoe Nemertes Apollodorus Athentensis adds to these Glancothoe Nonsithoe Halia Pione Plesrure Calipso Crante Neomeris Deâ—aneâ—ra Polinoe Melie Dione Isaea Dero Eumolpe Ione Ceto Limnoraea and all these are held to be most beautifull it is therefore thus fabled That Câ—ssiope wife to Cepheus King of Aethiopia gloried so much in her beauty that she held her selfe to be the fairest woman in the world and did not onely compare but preferre her selfe before the Nymphs called Nereides for which their indignation was kindled against her and in that high measure that they sent into those seas a Whale of an incredible greatnesse the people consulting with the Oracle how to appease the goddesses and free themselves from the monster answer was returned That it could not be done but by exposing their only daughter Andromeda fast bound to a rock that overloked the sea to be a prey to the sea-Whale but she was thence released by the vertue of Perseus and Cassiope by this means as a perpetuall example that all such rashnesse ought to be avoided translated amongst the stars for so much Arataeus hath left to memory in certain verses interpreted by Cicero This Nerius is for no other reason said to be the son of Oceanus and Tethis than to denote unto us the counsell judgement and cunning in guiding and directing ships by sea and therefore to have many daughters which are nothing but inventions new devises stratagems and changes belonging to navigation He is therefore said to be a Prophet because in all arts and disciplines there is a kind of knowledge by which we foresee and divine of things to come for he is held no skilfull navigator that cannot foretell by the weather the changes of winds and certain signs of tempests thereby to use prevention against them before they suddainly come He is also said to change himselfe into many figures to give us to understand that it is the part of a knowing and understanding man to arm himselfe against all chances and varietie of things whatsoever It is therefore required of such a man to use providence and care in all his affairs and actions and not to accuse the gods if any thing sinisterly happen unto him through his own temerity and rashnesse since with a prudent and well governed man their help and assistance is alwaies present The daughters of Triton ACesander cals Triton the son of Neptune Numenius in his book de piscatoribus derives him from Oceanus and Tethis Lycaphron in those verses wherein he tels of a cup presented unto him by Medea cals him the sonne of Nereus The Poets ascribe to him the invention of the trumpet and that it was first used in the Gigomantichia the great battel betwixt the gods and the gaints for in the midst of the skirmish when the event of the battell grew doubtfull Triton blew so shrill a blast that the giants thinking it had been the voice of some dreadfull and unknown monster that undertook the party of the gods turn'd their backs and sled by which accident they obtained a more sudden and safe victory Pausanias cals Tritia the daughter of Triton who was at first one of Minerva's Priest who being comprest by Mars brought forth Menalippus but that he had more then her I have not read Ino. She was the daughter of Cadmus and Harmonia who with her son Melicerta were enterteined into the number of the Sea-gods he by the name of Palaemon she of Leucothea both these are said to have predominance over sailers and power in navigation That she cast her selfe headlong into the sea I have before related in the tractate of Juno She was a stepmother and so prosecuted the children of Nephetes that she would have sacrificed one of them to the gods for which as Polizelus saith her husband Athanas did prosecute her with such rage that flying to Gerania a mountaine amongst the Megarenses from a rock called Maturides she cast her selfe and her son into the sea and of the same opinion is Pausanias some think it hapned at the same time that the Nereides were dancing there and that his body was transported by the waves to Sisiphus from Exhaenuntia where the Ithmian pastimes were first celebrated to his remembrance They of the City Megaera affirm her body to be cast upon their shore and by Cleso and Tauropolis the daughters of Cleson took up and buried She was afterwards called Matuta as Cicero in his Tuscul disputations saith Ino the daughter of Cadmus Is she not called by the Greeks Leucothoe and by us Latines Matuta And that she is taken for the morning is manifest by Lucretius lib. 5. Pausan in his Messanaicis saith that she was first named Leucothoe in a small village not far from the City Corone and that she had clemency in the securing and preserving of ships and pacifying the violent and troubled billowes of the Ocean Palaemon is also called Portunus or the Key-carrier as one that keeps a key of all the ports and havens to exclude and keep out all forrein enemies and the son of Matuta or the Morning in that time commonly the winds begin to breath and rise with the departing of night and because that from the land they rush upon the waters they are therefore said to cast themselves head-long into the sea for the morning is the most certain interpreter either of succeeding winds and tempests or of the countenance of a serne skie and faire weather Strabo cals Glaucus the son of Anthedon a Boeotian but Theophrastus will have
of the body have a consonance to the nature of that Planet under which they were born therefore some are delighted with one study some another according to the aspect of the Planeâ— For example if Mercury be in a good and pleasing aspect he begets eloquence facundity and elegancy of speech besides skill and knowledge in many things but especially in the Mathematicks the same being in conjunction with Jupiter they are bred Philosophers and Divines being join'd with Mars in his happy aspect it makes men skilfull Physiâ—ians and fortunate but in his bad aspect such as prove unskilfull unlucky and sometimes theeves and robbers which commonly happens when he is scorch'd with the Planet of the Sun Being in conjunction with Venus thence proceeds Musitians and Poets join'd with Luna wary Merchants and diligent and thrifty husbands with Saturn it infuseth men with prediction and prophesie But let this little serve to illustrate the rest so from the Muses we come to the Sybils Of the Sybils ISiodorus saith that the word Sybilla is a name of place and office and not of person It is derived of Syos which signifies Deus God and Beele as much as to say Thought So that Sybill comprehends a woman that had gods thought For as a man that prophesieth is called a Prophet so a predicting woman is called a Sybill Of their number the ancient writers much differ Aelianus in his book De varia Historia thus speaks There were foure Sybils Erithraea Samia Aegyptia and Sardinia Others to these adde six more to make the number ten amongst which are numbred Cymaea and Judaea with the three Bacchides one of Greece a second of Athens a third of Arcadia It seems he had forgot to reckon the tenth Aretine in his book De aquila volante agrees with Isiodorus In the etymology of the word Tanto sona quanto à aire mente devina He likewise numbers ten the first saith he was of Persia the second of Lybia the third was named Delphica being born in the Island of Delphos and near to the Temple of Apollo who prophesied of the wars of Troy the fourth was called Omeria and was of Italy the fifth Erythraea and born in Babylon she composed a book which in the Greek tongue was intituled Vasillogra the sixt was called Sania or rather Samia as born in the Isle Samos the seventh Cumana of the City Cuma whose Sepulchre as Isiodorus writes is in Sicily she brought certain books to Tarquinius Priscus which spake of the Roman succession and what should futurely betide them prescribing them the Ceremonies to be used in their sacrifices the eighth Ellespontiaca who likewise prophesied of the wars of Troy the ninth Phrigia the tenth and last Alburnea who prophesied many things concerning the Saviour of the world And so far Aretine The opinion of Johannes Wyerius in his book De praestigiis Daemonum is to this purpose That the devill in the theatre of this world might put a face of honesty upon all those Tragedies which he aim'd to execute upon mankind he instituted his Enthusiastae and his Pythean Oracles which were in use almost amongst all nations insomuch that their superstitions and prophanations had crept in amongst the people of God so that Moses made a law that all those that repaired to these jugling sorcerists should be stoned to death Amongst these are counted some of the Sybils though not all as the hirelings of the devill for the conservation and confirmation of his Kingdome for out of their books the Romans were drawn into many lunacies and frenzies as besides many other it is manifest in Zozâ—mus who recites many of ther verses full of tradition and superstitions meerly unlawfull though the two Sybils Erythraea and Cumana in heroick Poems prophesied of Christ and sung and declared his praises which as some conjecture they did by the sight of the prophesies of Esaias and David These Oracles lasted to the comming of our Savior but then surceast through all the parts of the world There were also a kind of sorcerists which some call Lemures the word importing the spirits and ghosts of such as perisht before times or abortively for from such they fathered their predictions and prophesies Of this kind there were many in Germany as Wyerâ—us relates who were of long continuance and such were called Alhae Mulieres or the white women which in their modern tongue implies as much as the white Sybils and this sort of people was ominous to women with child and to infants sucking at their mothers breasts and in their cradles These though in times of old they were most frequent and common when the world attributed too much to the jugling illusions of the devill yet since the Saviour of the world and our only patron hath supplanted him by the more pure and fervent preaching of the Gospell these mockeries and fallacies by which hee cheated the unlettered multitude of their faith and God of his honour are meerly adnichilated insomuch there is scarce left to posterity the least memory of their wicked traditions Of such as these it seems S. Hierom took especiall notice when in an Epistle writ to Paula upon the death of Blesilla he thus speaks Quae causa est ut saepe Dimuli Trimuli ubera lactantes c. i. What is the reason that children of two or three years of age and such as suck at the breast should be corrupted by devils The Ethnicks custome was to give names to such according to the diversity of their actions there were some called Hecataea as sent from Hecate others by the Italians Tolletae or Empedusae But this may appeare a digression from our Sybils therefore I thus proceed with them Pâ—trus Crinitus in his twentieth book De honesta disciplina speaking of the Sybils the Branchi and the Delphick prophetesses alledges Gellius Firmianus Hieronymus and other ancient writers extracting from their opinion which way and by what means these Oracles were imagined to be possest with the spirit of divination These of that order as Plato and Iamblicus have learnedly related either from the gods or spirits say they are inspired with that illumination by which they discern the fundamentall causes of things and can presage and foresee such events as shall succeed Iamblic in his book to Porphyrius saith thus The Sybill of Delphos two severall waies conceives the spirit by which she prophesies either by a soft breath or else by fire proceeding from the mouth of a certaine den or cave before the entrance of which she seats her selfe upon a three-footed or four-footed stool of brasse in which place the divine power either by whispering in her care or by some other infused blast inspired into her gives her the facility of uttering her predictions The Branchae sitting upon an axeltree held in her had a wand consecrated to some deity or other and either washt her selfe in some sacred fountain or received some influence from the vapour of
receive her to conceale her from the Sanne into her bosome from whence she at first proceeded to whose request her mother condescended and kept her so long till from her brest she sprung out a Laurell tree whom Phoebus notwithstanding courted but in vaine The manner of her transportation Ovid with great elegancy relates in his Metamorph. Without this Laurell as some think the Tripos in Bâ—oetia plac'd neer the vaticinating cave cannot be erected All writers confirm her a Sybill and a Prophetesse belonging to the Delphian Oracle howsoever the Poets have fabled Her prophesie was to this purpose An Angell shall descend and say Thou blessed Mary haile Thou shall conceive bring forth yet be A virgin without faile Three gifts the Chaldaeans to thy sonne Shall tender with much piety Myrrhe to a Man Gold to a King And Incense to a Deity Sybilla Cumaea SHe was called Cimmeria and was one of Apollo's Priests born in Cuma a City of Aeolia Leonard Aretine in his book de Aquila volante cals her Omeriae and would derive her from Italy Hâ—rodotus in his first book hath left this history recorded That Pactias the Persian flying for refuge into the City Cuma he was demanded thence by Mazares the great Generall but the Cumaeans would not deliver him up without advise from the Oracle There was in those daies an ancient and much adored Altar sacred to Apollo to which the Aeoles and the Ionians in all their hesitations repaired for counsell it was scituate in the Milesian fields neer to the Port called Panormus to this place were sent men both of birth and trust to demand from the Cumaeans Whether Pactias should be delivered unto the Persians who answered Let him be surrendred up which when the men of Cuma heard they with a joint suffrage concluded to send him thence and to obey the Oracle To which decree Aristodicus the son of Heraclius violently opposed himselfe a man amongst the rest at that time most illustrious either not giving credit at all to the answer or distrusting their fidelity that brought it therefore he himselfe with other of the prime Citizens prepared themselves for a second expedition these repairing to the Branchidae or Priests of which this Cumaea was one Aristodicus humbly kneeling before the Altar thus bespake Apollo Pactias the Lydian O King and god to shun a violent death gave himselfe into our patronage the Persians redemand him of the Cumaeans we though we fear not their forces yet dare not surrender up a suppliant to death who hath tendred his safety into our hands till we heare from thee what in this distraction is most fit to be done To these words the Priest as from Apollo returned this answer Let Pactias be delivered up to the Persians This done Aristodicus it seems not well pleased to betray the life of his friend surveying the Temple round he spi'd where sparrows and other small birds had builded their nests who taking away their young was about to depart the Temple when instantly was heard from the Altar the sound of a voice thus speaking Oh thou most wicked of men what arrogant boldnesse hath so far possest thee that thou presumest to take hence my supplyants and such as I have taken to my protection at which words Aristodicus returning made this free and bold answer Dost thou O King succour and protect thy supplyants and commandest us to betray the life of Pactyas to the Persians Some have cavilled with these Oracles that their verses have been harsh and not in smoothnesse of stile or elegancie or phrase to be compared with those of Hesiod or Homer to which may be answered We are sick with the disease of the eare and the eie let us not blame a Pythian Prophetesse because she sings not so sweetly as Glauce the minstrel nor appears in her hair perfumed with pretious unguents and her selfe jetting in Tyrian purple when the Sybill utters her divinations with a troubled brame and a distracted countenance her words harsh and unpleasant as not relishing laughter delight or ornament for such things are least pleasing to us in shew that are most beneficiall to us in proof Voluptatem enim non admittit quod integrum castum That admits no pleasure which of it self is perfect and chast Besides these were answers to be leasurely writ not suddenly spoke studied with long meditation and not extemporall it is probable that they in sweetnesse and smoothnesse might equall if not exceed the facundity of the former neither is it the sound the voice the language or the number or meeter of the god himselfe but of a woman and she too extasi'd in spirit and ravisht with a divine fury These shall suffice for Sybilla Cumaea I will only conclude with her prophesie The ancient of daies shall then submit to time The Maker yield himselfe to new creation The deity and Godhead most sublime Take shape of man to ransome every nation Die to make others live and every crime Committed from the round worlds first foundation Take on himselfe as low as Hell descending To win man Heaven upon his grace depending Sybilla Samia SHe is called Erophile or Hierophile taking the name of Samia from the Ille Samos where she was born Simon Grinaeus in his annotations upon Justin thus saith That this continent was called Samothracia because it buts so neer Thracia in that place was Pythagoras the Philosopher born with one of the Sybils stiled Samia The Island is dedicated to Juno because as they believe there Juno was born brought up and espoused unto Jupiter Heraclides in Pâ—litus saith That it was first a solitude or desert only inhabited by wild beasts amongst which were the Neides first seen in that wildernesse It was once called Partheniâ— after that Driuse there Ancaeus raigned of whom came the Proverb first Multa cadunt inter c. Many things fall between the cup and the lip In this Island have been seen white Swallows as big in body as a Partridge In this place flourisht Aesop where he first publisht his Fables and Theagines Samius after the scholer of Euripides Plut. in Quaest Graecis relates that when any sacrifice was offered to Mercurius Charidota which is as much as to say Munificent it was lawfull for any to steale and catch away each others garments because that having by the command of the Oracle left their own countrie and were forced by shifting into Micale there to live by rapine and theft that time being expired and at their return by vanquishing their enemies being possest of their own inheritance in remembrance of their former confinement they have observed that custome Of this Sybils particular actions much hath not been commended to posterity only of her person that such a one there was and of her prophesie which was thought to be this The world shall to six thousand years aspire By water once but then destroi'd by fire The first two thousand void the next the Law
this is kept the perpetuall fire for the Etymology of Vesta is nothing else but Purus ignis i. pure Fire Some are of opinion that in that Temple are kept the remembrances of many both sacred and secret monuments some strange and unknown even to Priests and Virgins Some speak of two tuns of no great quantity the one continually shut the other open and empty some of the Virgins have reported that the Palladium that fell from Heaven and was received into Troy is there still to be seen The first Virgins appointed by Numa were foure Gegania Berenia Camilla Tarpeia two others were added by Servius Tullius Their vowes of virginity were unalterable for thirty years In the first ten yeares they were to learn the ceremonies and to be as ministers aud handmaids in the rest she was to govern and instruct others and the thirty years expired she had liberty if she pleased to marry If any of these Vestals had wantonly offended she was to be chastised by the Priest but such â—s were found incestuous were punished after this manner Being first bound she was laid upon a Beer like a coarse already deceased and so carried through the mid Forum to the port or gate called Collina for there betwixt two wals is the grave of the unchast Vestals still apparant there is a cave hollowed under the earth the descent is with a ladder by the mouth which is of no great widenesse in this vault is a bed ready prepared a light burning with bread milk and oile these things being all made ready for the purpose the delinquent is set down her hands loosed and her head covered the high Priest whispering certain secret things in her eare the other Priests turning their faces from her which is no sooner done but she is let down into the cavern earth thrown upon her the grave filled and she stifled alive and that day on which this execution is done there is a generall silence and sadnesse through the whole City Oppia SHe was one of the Vestall virgins who being taken in whordome and the fast manifestly proved she was convented convicted and had her doom to be buried alive Upon whom Strozza filius inscribed this Epitaph Vestalis virgo laesi damnata pudoris Contegor hoc vivens Oppia sub tumulo I Oppia once a Vestall that For sinne my judgement have Condemn'd for lust am living shut And covered in this grave Claudia There were two of that name as Livy in his 22 book reports who were addicted to the ceremonies of Vesta Fonteia was the sister of Marc. Fonteius who being a Prefect or Governour amongst the Gauls was accused before the Senate of injustice and misgovernment as transgressing the lawes and edicts of the Romans Marcia was a Vestall virgin and one that attended upon the sacred ceremonies she was condemned of incest and as Oppia was before her buried alive Minutia also a minister of Vesta's sacrifices who for her elegant feature and extraordinary beauty and withall because the costly ornaments with which she used to attire her selfe exceeded the precise custome of her Order she was brought within the suspition of lust and inchastity for which being call'd into question and not able legally to acquit quit her selfe she was brought within the compasse of the law and for her supposed offence had both the sentence and execution due to the like delinquents Justin in his 43. book commemorates this history Aeâ—eas after many tedious travels landing in Italy was by marrying Lavinia the daughter of King Latinus made partner with him in the Kingdome for which marriage war was commenc'd betwixt them two of the one party and Turnus King of the Rutilians on the other In which combustions Turnus being slain and Latinus yielding to Fate Aeneas both by the right of victory and succession became Lord of both the Kingdome and people erecting a City called Lavinium in remembrance of his wife Lavinia In processe he made warre against Mezentius King of the Etruscians whom having slaine Ascanius the son of Aeneas succeeded in the principality Ascanius leaving Lavinium built the City Alba which for three hundred years space was the Capitall City of that Kingdome After many descents the regall honours were conferred upon Numitor and Amulius These two Princes emulous of each others greatnesse Amulius the younger having opprest his brother Numitor surprised also his sole daughter Rhaea who was immediate heir to her fathers honours and regall dignities all which he covetous to ingrosse to himselfe and fearing withall left from her issue might in time descend some one that might punish his insolencies and revenge her and her fathers injuries devised with himselfe how to prevent both and fearing lest by putting her to death he might incur a generall hate amongst the people in whose love he was not as yet fully setled he apprehended as his safest course to shadow her wrong beneath a veile of honour and so caused her with a strict vow of virginity to be elected into the sacred service of Vesta Being thus confin'd into the grove celebrated to Mars whether begot by Mars himselfe as was then beleeved or otherwise adulterously conceived it is uncertain but she was delivered of two sons This being know to Amulius increased his fears who commanded the infants to be cast forth and Rhaea to be loaden with irons under whose severe sentence expiring she yielded to Fate The two children ready to perish were miraculously nursed by a she wolfe and after found by the shepherd Faustulus were by him brought up and called Remus and Romulus and so much of Rhaea Tranquillus and Cornelius Tacitus both of them remember one Rubria a Vestall virgin who was forceably defloured by Nero. Another whose name was Pompilia because by her inchastity she prophaned the sacred orders of Vesta was buried alive the same death for the like offence suffered Cornelia Floronea the Vestall was convicted of whoredome but she to prevent one death made choice of another For taking to her selfe a brave Roman spirit she with her own hands boldly slew her selfe Posthumia taxed for her too curious habit and gaudiness in attire as much transcending the custome of that more strict Order was suspected of Lust and accited before the Senate and there arraigned she wittily and nobly answered to whatsoever could be objected against her so that being found guiltlesse she was absolved by the sentence of the high Priest or Arch-Flammin Sextilia sped not so well as this Posthumia for she being suspected of inchastity and found culpable suffered according to the law made for the punishment of the like offenders The like suffered Tutia the Vestali for her unlawfull prostitution Plutarch in Gracchis in the Catalogue of these consecrated virgins numbers Licinia And Pliny relates that when Clodius the Emperor was in opposition with his wife Messalina that sink of lust and most incontinent
of women when their differences could be no waies decided Messalina sent to Vbidia one of the most reverent amongst the Vestals by whose mediation attonement was made betwixt her and the Emperor The Vestall fire upon a time going out and it being imputed to their inchastity Aemilia with these words besought the goddesse Oh Vesta thou that art the protectour of this famous City Rome as I have truly and chastly almost for thirty yeares space celebrated thy sacrifices so either at this present crown my purity with fame or before this multitude brand my lust with infamy These words were no sooner spoken but casting her mantle upon the Altar the fire instantly brake forth where before there was nothing in place save cold embers by which prodigie her innocent life was protected Claudia the Vestall was of no lesse remarkable chastity who when a bark laden with the sacreds of the goddesse stuck fast in the river Tyber and by no humane strength could be loosed from the sand she thus openly protested before the people If quoth she O goddesse I have hitherto kept my chastity undefiled vouchsafe thesie may follow me when fasting a cord to the stearn of the ship she without any difficulty drew it along the river Tuscia likewise suspected of incontinence by the like wonder gave testimony of her innocence who invocating Vesta in these words If saith she O mother of the gods I have offered thy sacrifices with chast and undefiled hands grant that with this sieve I may take up water from the river Tyber and without shedding the least drop bear it unto thy altar which when she had obtained and accordingly performed with loud acclamations of the multitude she was absolved and her austere life ever after held in reverence The attributes of Modesty and Temperance are greater ornaments to a woman than gold or jewels and because all perfections cannot be in one woman at one time this Modesty is that which supplies all things that are wanting It is a dower to her that hath no portion not only an ornament to deformity but in blacknesse it impresses a kind of beauty it illustrates the ignobility of birth supplying all those defects wherein fortune hath been scanting And so much shall suffice for the Vestals Of the Prophetesses COncerning these Prophetesses I will onely make a briefe catalogue of some few whom the ancient writers have made most eminent We read of Hyrcia the daughter of Sesostris King of Aegypt most skilfull in divination who to her father foretold his amplitude and Monarchy Volatteranus in Georg. writes of one Labissa a divining woman that was eminent for many predictions in Bohemia whom succeeded her daughter Craco as well in skill as in fame Plutarch in Mario speaks of one Martha whom Marcius most honourably circumducted in a horse-litter and â—t her appointment celebrated many sacrifices her the Senate with a generall suffrage for her approved skill in augury rewarded with liberty making her a free woman of the City Polyxo is the name of one of the Phebaiedes of whom Val. Flaccus in his Argonauts thus writes Tunc etiam vates Phoebo delecta Polyxo Where he cals her a Prophetesse beloved of Phoebus Sâ—sipatra a woman by nation a Lydian and the wife of Aedesius the Sophist was possest with that divining spirit and true conjecture of future things that in their times accordingly hapned that she was said to be educated and instructed by the gods themselves Of the like approbation was Spurina who as Tranquillus testates forewarned Caesar to beware of the Ides of March who in the same day was murdered in the Capitoll of which he bid him beware Martianus Capella speaks of one Symachia and cals her one of the Sybils and often by all authors granted will allow but two namely Herophile Trojana the daughter of Marmensis and Symachia the issue of Hippotensis who was born in Erythraea and prophefied in Cuma Theano and Eucyppa the daughters of one Scedasus sung many oraculous cautions to the people of Sparta yet could they not predict their own disaster for after they were forcibly defloured by the young men of the same City and slain and their bodies cast into a well their father after long search finding them confounded with the sight of so sad a spectacle upon the sight thereof slew himselfe Caelius writes of a woman born in his Countrie called Jacoba out of whose belly unclean spirits made acclamations of future things to come of which one of them called himselfe Cincinnatulus who gave marvellous answers to such as demanded of him but spake as oft falsely as truly Of better knowledge as it seems was Apollonius of Tyana a City in Greece who told one Cylix a man given to all volu ptuousnesse That before three daies were expired he should be slain which accordingly hapned He used to protest that he spake nothing without the counsell of the gods and direction of the spirit that attended him he professed the knowledge of all languages and tongues to have insight into the thoughts of men to discourse any thing punctually that had past and divine as truly of any thing to come he was moreover an exact interpreter of dreams his life is compendiously set down by Vollatterranus Parialla lived in the age of Cleomines and was called the championesse of all the Delphian Prophetesses Now how the Devill should come to the foreknowledge of things to come it shall be held no unnecessary digression briefly to inquire These spirits being of a thin substance by their tenuity subtilty and incredible celerity moreover by the quicknesse of their apprehensions in which they far excell the slownesse and dulnesse of all earthly bodies by the divine permission understand and deliver many things which appear to us miraculous Therefore S. Augustine in book De Spiritu Anima saith That by reason of their antiquity and benefit of the length of time as having continued from the beginning of the world they have gathered to themselves that absolute and unmatchable experience of which man by reason of the brevity of his age is no way capable by which means some of their actions seem the more admirable some things they fashion out of the holy Scriptures themselves as having them all at their fingers ends and oft times predict such things as they themselves have purpose to act by this means tempting and seducing mankind Therefore Plato in Epinomide attributes unto them acutenesse of wit retentive memory and admirable knowledge Clemens in Recog saith That these spirits therefore know more and much more perfectly as not being burdened or dulied with the grosse weight of the body Tertullian in his Apology against the nations thus argues All spirits are winged and therefore are every where in an instant the spatious earth and all the corners thereof are to them but as one place and whatsoever is therein done they can as easily know as suddenly declare by this means they
make themselves the authors of many things and so they are indeed of mischiefs often of good things never The Croesians and the Pirrhians make it most apparant with what deceiving cunning he hath shadowed the ambiguities of his Oâ—acles No question but the devill by the infallible prophesies of Esay and Daniel both which had lively and expresly deliueated the young man Alexander knew that this Alexander by subduing Darius should enjoy all Asia and transfer the Monarchy from the Babylonians to the Graecians The Prince thereof comming to the Delphian Oracle and of the Prophetesse demanding the success that should follow his intended expeditions she of long time made him no answer but he not so satisfied by intreaties menacies and all manner of importunities at length wrested from her these few words Invictus eris Alexander Oh Alexander thou shalt be invincible which words had they failed in the successe of his wars yet had a shadow of truth in that his urgence overcame the silence of the Oracle After trajecting his army against the Persians divers Prodigies appeared at his entrance into Asia the statue of Orpheus was seen to sweet in his conflict with Darius an Eagle was still visibly seen soaring and hovering over his head and as it were menacing the enemy these were no question the mockeries of the devill to avert the opinions of such as gave not much credit to the superstitions of these vaine Auguries and to the firmer establishment of his own kingdome He knew before out of the Prophesies of Esay That Tyrus should be destroied by the Macedonians for so saith the Prophet The burden of Tyrus howle ye ships of Tarshish for it is destroi'd so that there is no house none shall come from the land of Chitrim it is revealed unto them This land Cethim many hold to be Macedonia for after that dialect the Macedonians are called by Homer Others by Cethim interpret the land of the Cyprians Now when after the defeat and utter subversion of Darius Alexander had invested his army before Tyrus the devill by Oracle forewarned one of the prime Citizens That Apollo would instantly forsake the City that the event answering the prediction might the more firmly establish the confidence setled upon these false Idols To this purpose makes that of the Pythian damsel in the Acts of the Apostles thus saith the Text And it came to passe as we went to prayer a certaine maid having a spirit of divination met us which gat her master much vantage with divining she followed Paul and us and cryed saying these men are the servants of the most high God which shew unto you the way of salvation and thus did she many daies Here we see the devill confesseth the truth but not with the intent to move the people to give beliefe to his doctrines For that appears by the sequell For when Paul grieved turned about and said to the spirit I command thee in the name of Jesus that thou come out of hâ—r and be came out the same hour For instantly followes the innate malice of the devill for when her masters saw the hope of their gaine was gone they caught Paul and Silas and drew them into the market place unto the Magistrates c. The devill prosecuting his hate against them even to false accusations beating with rods and imprisonment This argument I will end with one historicall discourse Johannes Wyerius in his first book De praest Daemon tels us that upon a time mention being made of Hector and Achilles before the Emperour Maximilian in his imperiall pallace one of his chiefe nobility and a prime Counseller of State among the rest began to speak most affectionately in their pâ—â—â—se extolling their actions strength and valour in that high measure that the Emperor was most desirous if it were possible to behold them in their true effigies and portraiture A Magician at the same time lived about the Court who boasted so much of his skill that he profest himselfe able to accomplish the desires of the Emperor and that without danger or prejudice to any this comming to the eares of the Emperor he was sent for and commanded to shew some testimony of his art The Magician in hope of reward and promise of silence free from all interruption undertakes it and moreover to secure the spectators from danger when placing the Emperour in his regall throne he cast about the same a wide and spatious circle that done he mumbles certaine unknown words to himselfe which he seemed to read out of a small book of characters which he drew out of his pocket This was no sooner done but Hector beats at the door with such violence that at the terrour of the stroaks the whole pallace seemed to tremble the door being opened Hector enters armed Cap a pe in a helmet plumed his target upon his arme and in his right hand a long mighty speare headed with brasse who thus accoutred with terrible and flaming eies looks round about the room his stature much larger then any that hath lived in our latter daies At another door first knocks then enters Achilles with the like majestick gate compleatly armed with an austere and menacing brow beholding Hector shaking and charging his spear against him as if he instantly purposed to invade him These two after honour done unto Caesar having gone on and returned back three times upon the instant vanisht This act being past next enters on the stage King David his head crowned with a rich diadem and adoâ—ned with all Kingly magnificence playing upon his harp but his aspect more plausible and his countenance more amiable then the former he likewise three severall times past by the Emperor still sitting in his throne but without any reverence done to his person at all and so likewise vanisht The Magician being asked by the Emperour Why of the rest David had only denied to do him honour he presently answered That all Kingdomes to the Kingdome of David must submit themselves because Christ himselfe came of his stock and linage Thus we see how the devill is never without Scripture in his mouth though blasphemy and execration in his heart Besides these kind of Diviners there are such as are called Sortiligae and these predict by lots and that after sundry maners of which I will instance one only They make a round circle and divide it into four and twenty equall distances according to the number of the Greek alphabet every space having the character of one of these letters upon which they put a graine of wheat or barley then is put forth a Cock kept for the purpose and by those grains that he picks up from the letters they make their conjectures Valens the Emperour much perplexed in his mind about the succession in the Empire retired himselfe to this kind of Augury when the letters and the grains being placed as is aforesaid the vaticinating Cock called Alectiomantious was turned out who
appear in these words Sponte fores Coeli patuerunt c. The gates of Heaven did of themselves stand wide Those which the virgin hours are set to keep As their great charge The Poles they likewise guide With all the upper regions From the deep The showers exhal'd they store and when they please The borrowed raine pay back into the seas They are called Horae of the Greek word which signifies Custodire or to keep and therefore said to be the guardians of heavens gates as having power to admit of our devotions and give them accesse unto the gods or otherwise if they be not faithfull and sincere to exclude them at their pleasures having moreover alwaies been and still continue great favourers and prosperers of all such as are laborious and studious They are called the daughters of Jupiter and Themis because as the Graces import nothing else but the hilarity and gladnesse that ariseth from the increase of the earth so these Houres signifie the fruit it selfe for the Greek word Carpo is Fructus properly then they are said to be the attendants of the Graces as the Graces are still the handmaids of Venus for the fruits of the earth are the increase as that plenty still followes delight and therefore they all equipage together as being by the Poets never separate Besides the names of the Hours are thus properly Englished Law Justice and Peace The abundance of all things is the companion of Vertue and Honesty but Scarcity and Dearth are the pages to Irreligion and Impiety for there is not a clearer mirrour in which may trulier be discerned the malice or gratitude of men towards the gods and consequently of their punishment and pity towards men then in the alterations of the Seasons which the ancient writers the better to signifie unto us made the Hours the Porters to heaven gates and gave them power over the clouds both in the mustering of them or dispersing them And so much for the Houres Aurora or the Morning HEsiodus in Theog tearms her the daughter of Hyperion and the nymph Thya and sister to the Sun and Moon Others derive her from Tytan and Terra they call her the way leader to the Sunne as Luciser the day-star is stil'd her henshman or usher for so saith Orpheus in an hymn to Aurora Homer in an hymn to Venus allowes her roseat fingers a red or ruddy colour and to be drawn in a golden Chariot Virgil sometimes allowes her foure horses sometimes but two and those of a red colour Theocritus describes them white or gray according to the colour of the morning Lycopheon in Alexandra brings her in mounted upon Pegasus Pausanias in Laconic wrâ—tes that she was doatingly besotted of the faire young man Câ—phalus as likewise of Orion in which Homer agrees with him Apollodorus makes her the mother of the winds and the stars Hesiod is of the same opinion that by prostrating her selfe to her brother Astraeus the son of Hyperion and Thia she brought forth Argâ—stre Zephyrus Boreas and Notus with a daughter called Jadama She was married to Tythonus the son of Laomedon and brother to King Priam but by divers mothers Priam being the son of Leucippe Tython of Strimo or as others invert it of Rhaeo daughter to the flood Scamander It is commemorated by the Poets that this Aurora begged for her husband Tython Immortality which was granted her by the gods But for getting in her pâ—tition to insert that withall he should not grow old in processe he grew to that extremity of decâ—epit age that living to be twice a child he was swath'd and crudled Tython had two sons by Aâ—â—ora Memnon and Aemathaeon of whom she 〈◊〉 the name Aemathia Pausanias cols Memnon the King of Aetheopia and from thence or rather as some more approved will have it from Sâ—sis a City in Persia he came to the wâ—rs of Troy for he before that expedition had subdued and subjugated all the nations neer or adjacent to the river Chaâ—â—â—â—â— Strabo relates that in the City of Abidus not far from Pâ—olomais in Aegypt he had a magnificent Palace all built of stone then which the Eastern would afforded not a more miraculous structure in which there was a labâ—rinth of the same stone and erected by the selfe same work master which was called after his name 〈◊〉 He died in a single Monomachia valiantly by the hand of 〈◊〉 in a battel fought betwixt the Greeks and the Tâ—ojans In the place where he was slain a fountain presâ—â—â—ly issued which yearly at that day â—â—stâ—wed nothing but blood which Calaber commemorates his Sâ—pulchre was in 〈◊〉 in Syria neer to the river Bada for so saith the Poet Simonides Some have held argument that Auâ—oâ—a made suit to Iupiter and when Memnons body was committed to the funerall fire he would transhâ—pe him into a bird which accordingly hapned as his Metamorph most lively expresseth in these words Memnonis orba mei venio qui fortia fâ—ustra c. Depriv'd of my sweet Memnon who in vaine Took arms for his deer Vncle and now slaine By great Achilles in his prime of years For so you gods would have it Loe appears Before thy throne oh Jove thou chiefe and rector Of all the gods their patron and protector A weeping mother begging to assure Honours to him by which my wounds to cure To this great Jove assents The funerall fire Is kindled the bright sparks towards heav'n aspire And like so many stars they make repaire Through the thick smoak which clouds and duls the aire Darkning the cleer day as when damps and fogs Exhaâ—'d from rivers or from marish bogs Before the Sun hath power In such a mist Vp flâ—e the obscur'd sparks till they subsist Above all in one body which assumes First shape then face next colour from the sumes Thus from that Pile the Memnian bird first springs Fire gave it life and lightnesse lent it wings It is said that many of these birds which still beare the name were seen to arise from his ashes which dividing themselves into divers squadrons fought so long amongst themselves till they fell dead into the fire sacrificing their own lives to his obits But Theocritus in his Epitaph upon Bion speaks of none but Memnon only who himselfe was changed into a bird and was seen to flie about and soare over his own funerall fires Lucian in Philopseudo speaks of a prodigie or rather a miracle which was most frequent where his statue was erected in the Temple of Serapis no sooner did the rising Sunne begin to shine upon his monument and seem'd to touch it but his statue yielded a most sweet and melodious sound but when he took his leave to rest himselfe in the West as if it mourned the Suns departure it breathed an army so sadly passionate that oft times it drew teares from the hearers which was thus interpreted That he still rejoiced at his mothers approach and presence but
their former losses at 〈◊〉 were utterly desperate Having thus conspired together with all possible expedition the ships in this exploit one Roma is reported to be chiefe which being done they can to meet their husbands making to their Navy to quench it fearing their anger for their rash enterprize some of them embracing their husbands others their friends and acquaintance they tempered their amorous kisses with such perswasive rhetoricke that soon allai'd the angry tempest of their husbands fury From these as some have writ the custome of kissing at salutations by the Roman women to their kinsmen first took Originall The Trojans now tied by necessity and likewise finding the inhabitants so loving and courteous they much applauded this deed of the women and dwelt there with the Latins The Phocides AFter an implacable war betwixt the Thessalians and the Phocenses which had long lasted with much slaughter on both sides those of Thessaly bringing their Army through the Locrenses invaded the men of Phocis on all sides making a decree to kill all that were of age and the women and children to beare away captive Diaphantes the son of Bathillius with his two colleagues then governing the City he perswaded the besieged boldly and valiantly to issue out and give the enemy battell but with this caution That all their wives daughters and children even to one soule should be brought into a place circled and compast in with all manner of dry wood and matter combustible and the dores by which they entered to be shut after them and so guarded and if the day were lost and they perisht in battell the pile to be kindled and all their bodies to be burned at once This being not only proposed but confirmed by the men the resolution of the women was demanded who all with one consent applauded the decree not one amongst them having will to survive her husband son or father to fall into the captivity of a fierce and bloody enemy This concluded the Phocenses issue and encounter the enemy and fought against them a noble and victorious battell in which they returned conquerors The Edict made they called Aponaea as signifying A bold action arising from a desperate foundation On the day that battell was fought and so remarkable a victory atchieved they yearly celebrate a feast to Minerva which they call Elaphebolia The women of Chios IN Chios a Gentleman of a noble family riding through the City with his contracted Lady in a chariot as the custome was then amongst them King Hippasus being a familiar friend of the bridegrooms meeting him in the streets with no pretence of injury but rather as a testimony of their former familiarity leapt up into the Chariot betwixt them which act being mistaken by the Citizens he was violently assaulted and cruelly murdered in their fury Nor long after their affairs on all sides succeeding but ill they perceived they had incurr'd the anger of the gods and therefore sent to consult with the Oracle who returned them this answer That nothing could expiate the butchery of Hippasus till all the Regicides were to one man exil'd the City But when all of them confest themselves guilty of the fact the god imposed on them all an equall doom of banishment so that as well the murderers themselves as the abettors and accessaries howsoever many and mighty were forced to transport themselves with their wives and families into Leuconia where they had not long so journed but growing distastfull to the Leuconians as fearing their power who began to encrease both in wealth and number they were commanded by such a day to depart the City and bound by oath to bear nothing forth the gates saving a coat close gift to them and a loose mantle or cloake over them The Chii distrusting their own strength as no way able to affront them in power and number were forced to submit themselves to the present necessity binding themselves by oath to observe the covenants before rehearsed The day comming on and the women seeing their sons and husbands thus meanly accoutred demanded of them Why unarmed they would passe by the face of a publick enemy They excused themselves by the strictnesse of the oath injoined them to whom the women with a joint acclamation thus replied Shew your selves worthy the Nation from whence you are derived and gird your arms about you if they exact from you the strict conditions of an oath answer them thus That to a souldier and a man magnanimous his spear is instead of his cloak and his Target in the place of the garment which he should buckle about him To whose counsell they assented and at their departure appearing so strongly arm'd and their countenances menacing and daring It strook such a terror into the hearts of the Leuconians that as men amazed they suffered them peaceably to dopart with honour who but by the noble and brave counsell of their women had left the place with shame and infamy As noble an act worthy memory was not long after done by the women of Chios what time Philip the son of Demetrius opposed the City who published a proud and barbarous Edict to insinuate the slaves of the City to his aid promising them not only free manumission but to marry them to their mistresses and possesse them of their masters fortunes which kindled such an unquenchable wrath in the Ladies and Matrons of the City that fired with rage and disdain they together with their servants assisting them with incredible faith and honesty maintained the breaches defended the wals guarded the ports casting stones darts fighting exhorting and incouraging one another even to the beating on the enemies back raising their shamefull siege and pursuing them flying with their weapons till Philips army was quite discomfited In all this troublesome war notwithstanding the proclamation not one servant amongst so many had the lest suspition much lesse aspersion cast upon his fidelity Persides CYrus having alienated the Persians from King Astiages was overcome in battell his souldiers flying towards the City for refuge insomuch that the enemy was ready to enter with them the women this seeing issued from the gates and holding up their cloaths a◠high as their breasts met them running and said Whither flye you O you cowards and basest of men have you any hope to hide your selves in these places from whence you came Which object cast such a shamefull blush upon them that renewing the battell the conquerors were defeated and they obtained a glorious victory In memory of which Cyrus made a law That what Persian King should ever after approach that City so often as he entered it should bestow on every woman a peece of gold It is said of Occhus his successor a covetous King that he often past by it and compast it but would never enter the gates only to spare his purse and to defraud the women of their reward But ever-renowned Alexander visited the City twice according to the custome
attended them while they waked but finding them in their better temper ministered unto them all such necessaries as the City yielded and sent them though the wives of their enemies in the charge and safe conduct of their own husbands peaceably home to their own Cities Comparable to their modesty was the magnanimity of Megisto an eminent Ladie of the City Elis. Aristotemus the Tyrant having by the power of Antigonus usurped the Franchises and Liberties of that City oppressed the people with infinite calamities amongst which that of Philodemus was not the least who having a beautifull daughter called Micca when Lucinus one of the Captains of Aristotemus in the heat of wine and lust would forceably have ravisht her and the poor innocent virgin fled for refuge into the arms of her father he there most inhumanely transpierced her mixing the teares of the revend old man with the blood of his daughter The horridnesse of this nothing moved the Tyrant but that if greater possibly could be devised he gave countenance even to such mischiefs causing many of the prime Citizens to be slaine and to the number of eight hundred banished But fearing in regard of their number he might be in time subverted he made Proclamation That all such women that had a desire to visit their absent husbands should with such gold and treasure as they could conveniently carry with their children have peaceable passage from the City into Aetolia where many or the most of their exiled friends then sojourned Many of the women encouraged by this Edict being to that purpose assembled and with such goods as they had departed the City he sent after them his horsemen who not only rifled them but stampt their children beneath their horses feet where many of the infants perished and so in confused heaps hurried them back into the Town bearing the spoile into the Tyrants treasury These outrages were the least of many which I purposely omit There lived at that time an ancient Noble man in the City called Hellanicus who entered into a combination with the exiles about the suppressing of the Tyrant and by reason of his years was neither by him feared nor suspected by the encouragement of this Hellanicus the confined Citizens assembled themselves into a City most convenient for their design called Amimona to whom many of their allies and friends copartners in the publique calamity resorted Aristotemus somewhat affrighted with this new faction repaired to a place of publick assembly whither he had caused all the chiefe matrons to be before called and there in a premeditated oration stuft with many threats and menaces protested to inflict upon them racks tortures and lingring deaths unlesse by speedy letters they did not only perswade but prevaile with their husbands instantly to abandon the place where they had fortified To whom Megisto the wife of Tymoleon a Lady amongst the rest most respected not daigning the Tyrant the least honour or so much as rising to do him reverence but sitting with a bold and undanted courage thus spake Wert thou a true spirited man as nothing less appears in thee thou wouldst not threaten women in this base kind to betray their husbands but wouldest rather have negotiated with them who have entire power and command over us and that in smoother and more deceitfull language then such by which thou hast hitherto beguiled us But if thy cowardise and desperation compell thee to this exigent as thinking by our means to complot their ruines thou art in that hope destitute of all comcomfort let that day never be callendred to memorise them among men so void of counsell and discretion that by sparing the lives of their wives and children they should betray the sacred liberty of their countrie for the mischiefe is not so great to lose us altogether whom they have already wanted so long as the good and profit that must necessarily accrue by redeeming the Cities from thy insolency and tyranny These words were no sooner uttered but Aristotemus distracted with rage and fury commanded her young son to be sought and brought whom he purposed to massacre before the mothers face and whilst his lictors and serjeants were inquiring for him amongst others that were then busied about their childish sports she spying him of her own accord called him to her with these words Come hither to me O my son and now in thy childhood before thou hast apprehension or passionate feeling of tyrannie be freed both from the terror and burden thereof or mine own part I had rather see thee innocently dying then basely and ignobly serving The Tyrant at her last speech more inraged then the former drew out his sword on purpose to have slain her when Cylo one of his familiar friends but indeed a chiefe man in the confederacie with Hellanicus staid his hand and by gentle words so tempered his spleen that he departed thence without any act of murder yet purpose of a future revenge Upon a day as he was sporting upon the bed with his wife untill dinner was prepared and disposed upon the table it hapned that an Eagle soaring above the Palace let fall a great stone upon the battlements just over the bed where the King then lay and alighting there made such a fearfull and prodigious noise that it not only amased the King within but was wonderfull to all that beheld it without The Augurers were sent for to know what omen should succeed they flatter the Tyrant and promise nothing but what is good and prosperous Hellanicus the same night in his dream imagined his son appeared to him which son was by Aristotemus before murdered with his brother who spoke to him to this effect O father arise is this a time to sleep when the whole government of the City must depend on you to morrow with this dream incouraged he comforted his adherents all attending the opportunity of revenge Aristotemus mean time hearing that Craterus was marched as far as Olympius with a great army leavied for his safety and support grew so bold upon the rumour of so great a power that without his guard accompanied with Cylo only he adventured into the market place whom Hellanicus meeting by chance and almost extasied to see him so weakly attended with both his hands advanced and with an audible and cleer voice he made this clamour Where be you you good and long oppressed Countrymen a brave Theatre is this for so noble a contention as our liberty being seated in the middest of our Countrie and centre of our City This Cylo invaded the next man to the King and slew him Thrasibulus and Lampides assaulted the Tyrant who fled to the Temple of Jupiter where they fell upon him and killed him then dragging his body into the market place proclaimed their libeâ—ty The women issued out of their houses with joy and clamour embracing their husbands fathers and friends with loud and glad acclamations thence in multitudes they made concourse to the Pallace The
a presumptuous security They shew it to the chiefe Commanders of Naxos who uniting themselves give the affrightned and unweaponed Miletians a sudden and unexpected aâ—laule and having slaughter'd many possesse themselves of the Castle But by Polycritas intercessive intreaties surprised Diognetus scapes with life And for this noble exploit of hers the glad Citizens running to meet her with shouts and acclamations every one bearing in his hand a Garland to receive her with those wreaths of honour Polycrita was so far extafi'd that her sudden joy asheâ—ed a sudden death for as she stood amased at the gate she instantly tell down exanimated in which gate she was buried and her sepulchre called The Tomb of Envy because it is supposed that Fortune grew so envious of her merits that thus she robb'd her of her life that so she might 〈…〉 of her deserved honours And thus much speaks the history of the Naxians Aristotle affirms Polycrita was no captive but only that Diognetus having seen her he grew so far enamoured of her that to enjoy her he pâ—oâ—eâ—ed her any thing that was in his power to give She promises to yield to his desire if he will grant her the fruition of one boon which when he had confirmed to her by oath she demanded Delium to be surrendered up for the Castle was so called Diognetus being so much inchanted with her beauty and â—oreover bound by the religion of his vow delivered up to her and the Citizens the Castle Delium Of Queens and other Ladies for divers vertues memorable VVE read of other women for divers noble actions Illustrious Dominica the wife of the Emperor Valens when the Goths had threatned the utter subversion of Constantinople by her wisedome and discretion mediated with the enemy and was the sole means of the safety both of the people and City Sâ—x Aurelius reports of Pompeia Plantina when her husband Julian the Emperor had with intollerable exactions oppressed the people insomuch that their discontents were ready to break out into rebellion this vertuous Princesse so far temporised with the Emperour that by her means they were released from all exactions and tributes Diaconus makes mention of Placidia the sister and wife of Honorius who in the yeare 412. when Ataulphus King of the Goths presented himselfe with an invincible army before the wals of Rome threatning utterly to subvert the City and after rebuild it again and instead of Rome to call it Gothia so wrought with the barbarous King by perswasions and promises that she turned his pride to pity and his immanity to mercy so that he departed thence without any assault made against the City or the least spoile doâ—e unto the Countrie Vollateranus speaks of Inguldis the sister of Childebert who being married to Hermagellus son to Lemigildus King of the Goths perswaded her husband then an infidell to be a true and constant professor of the Christian faith The like we read of Cleotilda Q of France who did the like good work upon her husband Clodoneus the son of Childerick Nor hath our own Nation been barren of good examples since Helena the mother of Constantine may in that kind claim equality if not precedâ—â—cy before any As Rome afforded a Volumnia moâ—her to Martius Corinlanus so England yeelded as eminent a Lady in all points the mother to Brennus and Belinus The first whâ—n her son had worthily deserved of his Country even to the attaining of all military honours and as an addition to the rest for his 〈◊〉 service against the City of Coriolorus had the denomination of Coriolanus bestowed upon him by the publick suffrage of the Senate yet notwithstanding for all his merits and unmatchable exploits by which he purchased to himselfe the honour to be called Pater Patriae yet after by the ingratefull multitude who were ever emulous of any mans deserved greatnesse he was not only degraded from all his titles of dignity but had the doom of everlasting banishment denounced against him in revenge of which ingratitude having raised an army and invaded the Towns of the Roman Empire ready to invest himselfe before the quaking and affrighted City when they had first sent to him to make their attonement their Priests who by reason of their sacred offices were held in much reverence next their Augurers and South-sayers then the Aeditiae which were the Keepers of their Temples and last their Prophets but none of these prevailing as their last refuge the Roman matrons presented themselves before Volumnia the mother of Martius humbly intreating her to make intercession betwixt her sons rage and the imminent calamity This reverend Lady mov'd with their tears and acclamations accompanied with Virgilia the wife of Coriolanus and many other Noble matrons and damosels having before promised to plead in their behalfs as far as a miserable mother could claim interest in an injured son repaired to his Tent and casting themselves down at his feet humbly besought him of compassion the rear exprest in their faces and the sorrow in their habits cast upon the enemy a sudden reverence and silence when Volumnia with such feeling accents and moving Oratory mixed with tears besought the peace of the City that they made a reverent impression in the heart of Coriolanus who supporting his mother and advancing his wife from the earth brake out into this extasie Vicistis you have overcome me Thus by these excellent women all combustions of war were appeased a threatned misery prevented and a generall and safe peace setled in the commonweale Of no lesse remark was the wife of Mulmutius Dunwallo the son to Cloten Duke of Cornwall who as Fabian remembers of him having in great peace and tranquillity governed the Kingdom for the space of forty years and was after buried in a place by him before erected called the Temple of peace leaving the land equally divided betwixt his two sons Belinus and Berennus to Belinus the elder was allotted England Wales and Cornwall unto Brennus all the North parts beyond Humber who being a young man and desirous of honour not content with the Principality appointed him commenced against Belinus a fearfull war But as the two brothers were ready to joine battell the mother presented her selfe betwixt the armies exposing her bodie to their opposite weapons shewing the breasts that gave them suck and with noble admonitions and motherly perswasions so mollified the hearts of the incensed Princes that all civill and seditious war laid aside they entered a friendly and brotherly league which was so established in the reverend vertues of the mother that it was never after violated in all their life times after With what condign honours is Queen Marcias memory worthy to be celebrated who being the wife to Guinthetinus King of Britain the son of Gurgunscius was in those daies of that excellent learning and knowledge that she devised many profitable and wholsome lawes to the benefit of the Common-wealth which
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
and in that darknesse remained for the space of ten years After which time in great melancholly expired he received this comfort from the Oracle which was then in the City Butis That if he washt his eies in the urine of a woman who had been married a full twelve month and in that time had in no waies falsified in her own desires nor derogated from the honour of her husband he should then assuredly receive his sight At which newes being much rejoiced and presuming both of certain and sudden cure he first sent for his wife and Qu. and made proofe of her pore distillation but all in vain he sent next for all the great Ladies of the Court and one after one washt his eies in their water but still they smarted the more yet he saw no whit the better but at length when he was almost in despaire he hapned upon one pure and chast Lady by whose vertue his sight was restored and he plainly cured who after he had better considered with himselfe caused his wife withal those Ladies saving she only by whose temperance and chastity he had reobtained the benefit of the Sun to be assembled into one City pretending there to feast them honourably for joy oâ— his late recovery Who were no sooner assembled at the place called Rubra Gleba apparelled in all their best jewels and chiefest ornaments but commanding the City gates to be shut upon them caused the City to be set on fire and sacrificed all these adulteresses as in one funerall pile reserving only that Lady of whose loialty the Oracle had given sufficient testimony whom he made the partaker of his bed and Kingdome I wish there were not so many in these times whose waters if they were truly cast by the doctors would not rather by their pollution put out the eies quite then with their clearnesse and purity minister to them any help at all Laodice JVstine in his 37. book of History speaks of this Laodice the wife and sister to Mithridates King of Pontus After whose many victories as having overthrown the Scythians and put them to flight those who had before defeated Zopyron a great Captain of Alexanders army which consisted of thirty thousand of his best souldiers the same that overcame Cyrus in battell with an army of two hundred thousand with those that had affronted and beaten King Philip in many oppositions being fortunately and with great happinesse still attended by which he more and more flourisht in power and increased in majestie In this height of fortune as never having known any disaster having bestowed some time in managing the affairs of Pontus and next such places as he occupied in Macedonia he privately then retired himselfe into Asia where he took view of the scituation of those defenced Cities and this without the jealousie or suspition of any From thence he removed himselfe into Bythinia proposing in his own imaginations as if he were already Lord of all After this long retirement he came into his own Kingdome where by reason of his absence it was rumour'd and given out for truth that he was dead At his arrivall he first gave a loving and friendly visitation to his wife and sister Laudice who had not long before in that vacancy brought him a young son But in this great joy and solemnity made for his welcome he was in great danger of poison for Laodice supposing it seems Mithridates to be dead as it before had been reported and therefore safe enough had prostituted her selfe to divers of her servants and subjects and now fearing the discovery of her adultery she thought to shadow a mighty fault with a greater mischiefe and therefore provided this poisoned draught for his welcome But the King having intelligence thereof by one of her handmaids who deceived her in her trust expiated the treason with the blood of all the conspirators I read of another Laodice the wife of Ariarythres the King of Cappadocia who having six hopefull sons by her husband poisoned five of them after she had before given him his last infectious draught the youngest was miraculously preserved from the like fate who after her decease for the people punished her cruelty with death succeeded in the Kingdome It is disputed in the Greek Commentaries by what reason or remedy affection once so devilishly setled in the breast or heart of a woman may be aâ—ered or removed or by what confection adulterous appetite once lodged and kindled in the bosome may be extinguished The Magicians have delivered it to be a thing possible so likewise Cadmus Milesius who amongst other monuments of history writ certain tractates concerning the abolishing of love for so it is remembred by Suidas in his collections And therefore I would invite all women of corrupted breasts to the reading of this briefe discourse following A remarkable example was that of Faustina a noble and illustrious Lady who though she were the daughter of Antonius Pius the Emperor and wife to Marcus Philosophus notwithstanding her fathers majesty and her husbands honour was so besotted upon a Gladiator or common fencer that her affection was almost grown to frensie for which strange disease as strange a remedy was devised The Emperor perceiving this distraction still to grow more and more upon his daughter consulted with the Chaldeans and Mathematicians in so desperate a case what was best to be done after long consideration it was concluded amongst them that there was but only one way left open to her recovery and that was to cause the fencer to be slaine which done to give her a full cup of his luke-warm blood which having drunk off to go instantly to bed to her husband This was accordingly done and she cured of her contagious disease That night was as they sad begot Antoninus Commodus who after succeeded him in the Empire who in his government did so afflict the Common-weal and trouble the Theater with fensing and prizes and many other bloody butcheries that he much better deserved the name of Gladiator then Emperor This that I have related Julius Capitolinus writes to Caesar Dioclesianus Were all our dissolute matrons to be cured by the like Phisick there would no question be amongst men lesse offenders and among women fewer patients that complained of sick stomacks Phaedima CAmbyses having before unnaturally slain his brother Smerdis by the hands of his best trusted friend Praxaspes but after the death of the King for the horridnesse of the fact the Regicide not daring to avouch the deed to the people lest it might prejudice his own safety one Smerdis a Magician whose ears Cambises had before caused to be cut off took this advantage to aspire to the Kingdome and being somewhat like in favour to the murdered Princes who was by the Souldiers generally believed to live it purchased him so many abettors such as were deluded with his impostures that he was generally saluted and crowned Emperor This was
To whom the Prince in derision thus spake Basâ— Negromancer how canst thou be my father seeing that to the mighty King Philip here present I owe all filiâ—ll duty and obedience to whom Nectenabus rehearsed all the circumstances before related from the beginning and as he concluded his speech so ended his life How the husband upon this information behaved himselfe towards his wife or the son to his mother I am not certain this I presume it was a kind of needfull policy in both the one to conceale his Câ—coldry the other his Bastardy so much of Olympias concerning the birth of her son Alâ—xander I will proceed a little further to speak of her remarkable death being as majestically glorious as the processe of her life was in many passages thereof worthily infamous Justine in his history relates thus Olympias the wife of Philip and mother of Alexander the Great coming from Epirus unto Macedonia was followed by Aeacâ—dâ—â— King of the Molossians but finding her selfe to be prohibited that Câ—untry whether annimated by the memory of her husband encouraged with the greatnesse of her son or moved with the nature of the affâ—ont and injury as she received it I am not certain but she assembled unto her all the forces of Macedoniâ— by whose power and her command they were both slaâ—â— About seven years after Alexander was possessed of the Kingdome neither did Olympias reign long after for when the murdeâ—â— of many Pâ—iâ—ces had been by her committed rather after an effâ—minate then â—egall manner it converted the favour of the multitude into an irreconcileable hatred which â—eaâ—ing and having withall intelligence of the approach of Cassander now altogether distrusting the fidelity of her own Countrymen she with her sons wife Roxana and her Nephew young Hercules retired into a City called 〈◊〉 or Pictuaâ— in this almost forsaken society were Deidamia daughter to King Aeacidus Thessalonice her own daughtâ—â— in law famous in her father King Philip's memory with diveâ—â— other Princely matrons a small train attending upon them â—ather for shew and state then either use or profit These things being in order related to Cassander he with all speed possible hastens towards the City Pictua and invests himselfe before it compassing the place with an invincible siege Olympias being now oppressed both with sword and tamine besides all the inconveniences depending upon a long and tedious war treated upon conditions in which her â—aâ—e conduct with her trains being comprehended she was willing to submit her selfe into the hands of the conquerour at whose mercy whilst her wavering fortunes yet stood Cassander convents the whole multitude and in a publick oration desires to be counselled by them how to dispose of the Queen having before suborned the parents of such whose children she had caused to be murdered who in sad and funerall habits should accuse the cruelty and inhumanity of Olympias Their tears made such a passionate impression in the breasts of the Macedonians that with loud acclamations they doomed her to present slaughter most unnaturally forgetting that both by Philip her husband and Alexander her son their lives and fortunes were not only safe amongst their neighbour nations but they were also possessed of a forrein Empire and 〈◊〉 from Provinces 〈◊〉 their times scarce heard of but altogether unknown Now the Queen perceiving armed men make towards her and approach her to the same purpose both with resolution and obstinacy she attâ—â—ed in a Princely and majestick habit and leaning in state upon the shoulders of two of her most beautifull handmaids gave them a willing and undanted meeting which the souldiers seeing and calling to mind her former state beholding her present majesty and not forgetting her roiall off-spring illustrated with the names of so many successive Kings they stood still amazed without offering her any 〈◊〉 violence til others sent thither by the command of Cassâ—nder throughly pierced her with their weapons which she 〈…〉 with such constancy that she neither offeâ—â—d 〈…〉 avoid their wounds or expresse 〈…〉 by any 〈◊〉 clamour but after the manâ—◠〈…〉 men submitted her selfe to 〈…〉 her 〈…〉 expressing the invincible spirit 〈…〉 Alexander in which she likewise shewed a singuâ—â—r 〈◊〉 for with her disheveled hair she shadowed her 〈◊〉 leâ—t in sâ—rugling between life and death it might 〈…〉 and with her garments covered her legs and 〈◊〉 lest any thing aboâ—â— her might be found uncomely 〈…〉 Cassander took to wife Thessalonice the the daughâ—â—◠〈◊〉 Aridaeus causing the son of Alexander with his 〈◊〉 Roxane to be keep prisoners in a â—ower called â—â—â—â—phipositana 〈◊〉 ABout the time 〈◊〉 the Huns came 〈◊〉 into Italy and expoiled the Longâ—hards 〈◊〉 laid 〈◊〉 to the City 〈◊〉 and in a hot assault having slain the Duke Oysulphus his wife 〈…〉 Râ—milda 〈◊〉 the Town defensible bravely and resolutely mainteined it against the enemy But as Cacana King of the Anes approached neer unto the wals encouraging his souldiers to hang up their scaling ladders and enter Romilda at the same time looking from a Cittadel cast her eie upon the King who as he seemed unto her with wondrous dexterity behaved himself and with an extraordinary grace became his arms This liking grew into an ardency in love for she that at first but allowed of his presence now was affected to his person insomuch that in the most fierce assaults though her self danger of their crosse-bows and slings she thought within the secure so she had the King her object This fire was already kindled in her breast which nothing could qualifie insomuch that impatient of all delay she sent unto her publike enemy private messengers That if it pleased the King being as she understood a batchelor to accept her as his bride she would without further opposition surrender up the Town peaceably into his hands these conditions are first debated next concluded and lastly confirmed by oath on both sides The Town is yeelded up and Cacana according to his promise takes Romilda to wife but first he makes spoile of the Town kils many and leads the rest captive The first night he bedded with his new reconciled bride but in the morning abandoned her utterly commanding twelve Huns and those of the basest of his souldiers one after another to prostitute her by turns that done he caused a sharp stake to be placed in the middle of the field and pitched her naked body upon the top thereof which entring through the same made a miserable end of her life at which sight the Tyrant laughing said Such a husband best becomes so mercilesse an harlot This was the miserable end as Polycronicon saith of Romilda But better it hapned to her two beautifull and chast daughters who fearing the outrage of the lustfull and intemperate souldiers took purrified flesh of chickens and colts and hid it raw betwixt their breasts the souldiers approaching them took them to be diseased as not able to come neer them by reâ—son of the
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
neighbour we feare to offend the higher Majesty and next that fear the terrour of eternall death and dammation by the first we preâ—evâ— our bodies by the second our honours by the last our soules But those other â—bject fears I purpose â—ere to exemplifie only such as proceed from Effeminacy and Cowardâ—â—â— It is read of Pysander of Greece that being alive he â—eared leâ—t his soul had already forsaken his body Likewise of one Artemon who was of that haâ—â—-hearted disposition 〈◊〉 he moved not abroad without Targers of bâ—asse borne over him like Canopies lest any thing should â—â—ll from aloft and â—eat out his brains or if he rid it was 〈◊〉 horse-litter ceiled and crosse-barâ—'d with gadâ— oâ— steel and plates of iron for which he was called Peripharetes Sâ—bellicus writes that Cassander so feared Alexander that long time after his death comming to Delphos to behold the goodâ—y statues there erected at the very sight of his old masteâ—s eâ—â—igies he fell into such a timorous feâ—ver that his very 〈◊〉 danced in his skin and long time it was â—re they could constantly settle themselves in them own places This was that Cassander who had caused Olympias the mother of Alexander to be so cruelly butchered It is 〈◊〉 of St Valleâ—â— Duke of Valentinois in France that being condemned to death for not disclosing the treasons of the Duke of Burbon just at the instant when the executioner should have strook off his head the King sent him his gracious pardon but all in vain the fear of the blow before it came had dispatched him of life Hereof hath grown a proverb to any man that hath a strong apprehension of feare they will say he hath La fieure de Saint Vallier i. the feaver of Saint Vallier Another thing is recorded of a fellow that was so affraid of the name of Hercules that he hid himselfe in caves and rocks though he knew not of any quarrell betwixt them at length stealing from the obscure cavern where he had denned himselfe to see if the coast were clear casting his eie by chance on the one side and espying Hercules who came that way by chance his life blood sinking into his heels she shook them a little and died in that feaver I could recite terrors and vain fears which have arisen from nothing that have terried whole Cities of Grecians armies of Romans and multitudes of other nations but these particulars shall suffice for my purpose is not too farre to esteminate men nor too much to embolden women since the most valiant man that is is timorous enough and the modestest woman that is may be made sufficiently bold But to the purpose in hand Debora a warlike woman was a Prophetesse and judged Israel by whose counsell and courage they were not only freed from the inroads and incursions of the neighbour nations but many times returned from the field with rich spoiles and glorious conquests of her you may read more at large in the Judges Janus was an ancient King of Italy he enterteined King Saturn when by his son Jupiter he was châ—ced out of Creet Because he was a provident and wise Prince the Romans pictured him with two faces and received him into the number of their gods they attributed to him the beginning and end of things celebrating to his honour the first month January which took the denomination of Janus from his name one face looked upon the year to come the other looked back on the yeare past in his right hand he had a golden key which 〈◊〉 the Temple of Peace in his left a staffe which he strook upon a stone from whence a spring of water seemed to issue out he is thus described by Albricus the Philosopher in his book de Deorum Imaginibus This Janus left behind him a beautiful fair daughter whose name was Helerna she succeeded her father in his Kingdom which was 〈◊〉 by the river Tiber and was a woman of masculine spirit and vertue she reigned over men without the counsell or assistance of men she subdued Nations by her valour and conquered Princes by her beauty of whom may be truly spoken as Propertius lib. 2. writes of the Queen Penthisilaea Ausa ferox ab equo quondam oppugnare sagittis c. Penthisilaea from her steed When her high courage rose Durst with her shaâ—â—s and warlike darts The Darnish fleet oppose No sooner was her beaver up And golden caske laid by But whom by force she could not take She captiv'd with her eie Camilla and others THis Camilla was Queen of the Volscians who even in her craâ—le gave manifest tokens of her future vertue and valour for in her infancy she was neither swathed in soft cloathing nor wrapt in silken mantle not attended by a tender nurse nor â—ed with curious dainties or â—arre fetcht delicates but fostered by her father Meâ—abus with the milk of hinds and wild goats her court was a forrest and her palace a dark and obscure cave Having somewhat outgrown her infancy she took no pleasure in rattles puppets or timbrels in which children for the most part delight neither did she inure her hands to spinning or any such like womanish chares her cloathing was the skins of wild beasts her exercise hunting her practise shooting her arms the bow and quiver her drink the fountain water and her food Venison To this â—bsteâ—â—ous life she vowed the strict vow of chastity At length war being commenc'd betwixt Turnus and Aeâ—eas she adhered to the Ruâ—ilian faction and to those wars brought a regiment of gallant horse which she in person 〈◊〉 Her magnanimity Virgil in the latter end of his 〈◊〉 book thus sets down Hos super 〈◊〉 volsca de gente Camilla Agmea 〈◊〉 equâ—um florentes aere catervas To their supply Camilla came The gallant Volscian Lasse Who bravely did command the horse With troops that shin'd in brasse Of the like condition was Maria Puteolana so called of Peuâ—eolum a City of Campania she was of a warlike condition and an invincible courage and flourisht in the age of Franciis Pitrarch she is described to be most patient of labour and untired with travell moderate in diet but altogether abstinent from wine sparing of words 〈◊〉 boasting but alwaies daring The needle the wheel and the 〈…〉 horse armour the bow the 〈◊〉 and the target above all other delights she embraced she used to walk whole nights without the least sleep and travell whole daies together without rest if necessity at any time compelled her eies to wink or her body to lie down the earth was her bed and her shield her pillow she abandoned the society of women her continuall conversation was with Captains and Commanders which though 〈…〉 a face of boldnesse and as some term it impudency yet his apparant to all men in what a soveraign respect she held her chastity and honour which she maintained without the least blemish unspotted to the end from
of him in his growth as hope in his infancy he therefore sent abroad to find out the most cunning Astrologians to calculate his nativity that if the stars were any way malevolent to him at his birth he might by instruction and good education as far as was possible prevent any disaster that the Planets had before threatned A meeting to that purpose being appointed and the Philosophers and learned men from all parts assembled after much consultation it was concluded amongst them That if the infant saw Sunne or Moon at any time within the space of ten years he should most assuredly be deprived the benefit of sight all his life time after With this their definitive conclusion the father wondrously perplexed was willing father to use any fair means of prevention then any way to tempt the crosse influence of the stars Hâ— therefore caused a Cell or Cave to be cut out of a deep rock and conveying thither all things necessary for his education he was kept there in the charge of a learned tutor who well instructed him in the Theory of all those Arts which best suited his apprehension The time of ten years being expired and the fear of that ominous calculation past over the day was appointed when his purpose was to publish his son to the world and to shew him the Sun and Moon of which he had often heard and till then never saw entire and to present unto his view all such creatures of which he had been told and read but could distinguish none of them but by hear-say They brought before him a Horse a Dog a Lion with many other beasts of severall kinds of which he only looked but seemed in them to take small pleasure They shewed him Silver Gold Plate and Jewels in these likewise be appeared to take small delight or none as not knowing to what purpose they were usefull yet with a kind of dull discontent he demanded their names and so pâ—st them over At length the King commanded certain beautifull virgins gorgeously attired to be brought into his presence which the Prince no sooner saw but as recollecting his spirits with a kind of alacâ—ity and change of chear he earnestly demanded What kind of creatures they were how bred how named and to what use created To whom his tutor jeastingly replied These be called Devils of which I have oft â—old you and they are the great tempters of mankind Then his father demanded of him To â—hich of all these things he had beheld he stood affected and to whose society he was most enclined who presently answered O Father I 〈◊〉 to be attended by these Devils Such is the atractive 〈…〉 which women cannot fully appropriate to themselves since it is eminent in all other creatures Who 〈…〉 at the 〈◊〉 of the Sunne the glory of the 〈…〉 the splendor of the Stars the brightnesse of the morning and the faire shutting in of the evening Come to the flowers and plants what artificiall colour can be compared to the leaves of the Marigold the Purple of the Violet the curious mixture of the Gilly flower or the whitenesse of the Lilly to which Solomon in all his glory was not to be equalled You that are proud of your haire behold the feathers of the â—ay or Parret with the admirable variety of the Feasant and Peacock What Rose in the cheek can countervail the Rose of the garden or what azure vein in the temples the blew flower of the field Come to outward habit or ornament what woman doth better become the richest attire though fetch'd from the furthest parts of the world then the Panther in his stains and the Leopard his pleasing and delightfull spots Are not the fishes as beautifull in their silver shining scales and the terrible Dragon as glorious in his golden armour as women apparelled in cloth of Bodkin or 〈◊〉 What is she that exceeds the Dove or Swan in whitenesse or the Pine or Cedar in streightnesse Let me hear her voice that can compare with the Nightingall in sweetnesse or behold that eie that can look upon the Sun with the Eagles Why should you fair ones then be proud of any thing that are by other creatures exceeded in all things Besides even the choisest beauty amongst you being once enjoied is the lesse esteemed Souldiers having vanquisht their enemies hang up their arms Sea-men that have attained their harbour fold up their sails The choicest dainties are loathsome to such as have filled their stomacks and Wine is a burden to him that hath satiated his thirst Nobility of birth is a thing honourable â—ut you are not beholding to your selves for it but your ancestors Riches and Plenty are excellent but they are the gifts of fortune therefore subject to change and casualty Praise and honour is venerable but withall unstable Health is precious but subject to sickness and infirmity Strength an excellent gift and blessing but neither free from age nor disease Beauty is admirable above all and yet subject to all only Learning Knowledge Art and Vertue are above the envy of change or malice of Fortune Neither are you women solely beautifull We read in Marcial lib. 1. of a boy called Achillas of admirable feature of Acanthus whom the gods at his death in memory of his exquisite form changed into a flower that still bears his name Amongst the Romans Scipio surnamed Demetrius and amongst the Greeks Alcibiades carried the Palm from women who as Plutarch in his life reports of him was not only wondred at in his youth but admired in his age his grace and comlinesse still growing with him Formosum pastor Coriden ardebat Alexim The shepherd Coridon doted on the fair Alexis Saxâ— Grammaticuâ— speaks of Alphus the son of Gygarus whose hairs exceeded the brightnesse of Silver Amaratus was changed into a sweet-â—â—elling flower after his death â—alentiuâ— speaks of Amphimedon thus Formosum Phiale prius 〈◊〉 Amphimedenta Amphimedon Phiaâ—es maxima cura 〈◊〉 Phiale was enamoured of Amphimedon the faire Amphimedon of Phiale became the greatest â—are 〈◊〉 Bithinicuâ— was a youth of that admirable beauty and feature that Adâ—â—an the Emperor was enamoured of him in whose memory he erected a Temple in 〈◊〉 and built a City by the river Nilus he caused his 〈◊〉 to be stamped upon his own coin therefore 〈◊〉 as Volaterranus reports cals him the Emperor 〈◊〉 conâ—â—bine Asterius was the son of Ceres a young man of a singular form but altogether abstemious from the love of women whom Ovid in 〈◊〉 remembers Asâ—ur is celebrated by Virgil Sequitur pulâ—herrimus Astur Astur â—quo siâ—â—ns versie loribus armis The fairest Astur followes 〈◊〉 in field Astur that 〈◊〉 â—nto his horse and particoloured shield Atâ—s the â—â—rygian youth was for his fairnesse beloved of the mother of the gods Virgil speaks of Aventinus in these words 〈◊〉 ostentat equos satus Hercule pulchâ—o 〈…〉 Fair Aventâ—â—â—â— he that of faire Hercules was born 〈◊〉 of his conquering steâ—ds
at the upper end of a long gallery which when the Embassador should enter the great Ladies of either side richly attired were placed through the middest of whom as he passed along he as amazed at the state or admiring at their beauties cast his eie first on one side then on the other and that not without some pause as if he had been to take a particular survey of all their features but by degrees comming up towards the Queen who sate like Diana amongst her nymphs or Ariadne in her crown of stars instated above the lesser lights to give him entertainment and observing his eies still wander she thus bespake him Averte oculos ne videas vanitatemâ— Turn away your eies least you behold vanâ—ty to whom he suddenly replied Imo potius miribilia opera Deiâ—â—â— Nay the wonderfull works of God Since then you are such rather let your vertuous actions beautifie then your vitious deeds any way disgrace his so great and glorious workmanship Of Faire Women OF these Herodica shall have the first place Niceus in his book de Rebus Arcad. relates That one Cypselus purposing to raise a new Colony erected a faire and goodly City in a spacious Plaine bordering upon the river Alphaeus to which place multitudes of the Parrhasians came to inhabit At the same time was a Grove and an Altar celebrated with much pomp and solemnity to Elusina Ceres with annuall feast at this publike meeting was a contention Which of all the women was censured to be the fairest The first that had the priority and Palm for beauty bestowed upon her was Herodica the wife of Cypselus Zenophon apud Coelium lib 7. cap. 53. speaks of one Panthaea the wife of Abraditus a Noble man of Persia whom Cyrus having defeated the army of the Aslyrians and spoiled their tents took captive Abraditus at that time being absent as not long before emploied upon an Embassie to the Bactriaus in which interim Panthaea was in the custody of a Noble man of Media called Araspes who affirmed of her to the King with great admiration of her feature and beauty That in all Asia her like was not to be seen or found Pâ—ulus Dâ—aconus writes of Theodole a Roman Lady of that admirable splendour that she attracted the eies of all men that but glanced that way to dwell upon her with wonder her haire was bright and yellow which when she pleased to unloose and leâ— fal about her shoulders it covered her from the crown to the heel A large description he makes of her perfections howsoever most certain it is that the King Cambeâ—les was exâ—â—eamly entangled in the snares of her beauty Saxo Grammaâ—icus in his Danish history commemorates one Suabilda a Queen in 〈◊〉 the lineaments both of body and face to be of that rare pulchritude that being doomed unto a wreâ—ched and miserable death and bound with thongs of leather to be trod upon by the hoofs of wild horses her beauty strook such an impression even in those unreasonable creatures that they could not be forced with their rude 〈◊〉 to leave the least character of violence upon lambs so fair and exquisitely fashioned The same Author remembers us of Seritha and Signis the first a virgin of incomparable splendour to whom one Otharus was a 〈…〉 the other was the daugher to one Sygarus who paralleld the first and was importunately sollicited by 〈…〉 Brysaeis was so faire that she endeaâ—ed 〈…〉 of all the Greeks Achilles 〈…〉 or handmaid yet he 〈…〉 of her above all his other women of whom Horace 〈◊〉 Insolentem Serva Brysaeis niveo colore 〈…〉 His 〈…〉 with her colour white Iasolent 〈◊〉 moved to delight Of 〈◊〉 Ovid likewise speaks lib. 2. de Arte Amandit 〈◊〉 ut in capta Lyrnâ—side magnus Achilles Cum premeret 〈◊〉 lossus ab hoâ—te torum This 〈…〉 of his Love 〈◊〉 When with the slaughâ—er of his enemies tired He doff'd his Cushes and unarm'd his head To 〈◊〉 with her on a soft day bed It did rejoice Bryseis to embrace His braised arms and kisse his blood stain'd face Those hands which he so often did imbrew In blood of warlike Trosans whom he slew Were now imploâ—'d to tickle touch and feel And shake a Lance that had no point of steel Thargelia Molesia was of that excellent aspect that as Hyppias the Sophist testifies of her she was married by course to fourteen severall husbands for so he writes in a Treatise entituled De inscripta Congregatione in which besides her character of beauty he gives her a worthy attribute for her wisedome in these words Perpulchra sapiens Anutis was the wife of a noble person called Bogazus and sister to Xerxes by the fathers side She as Dinon writes in his Persick history in the chapter entituled De prima Coordinatione in these words Haec ut pulcherrima fuit omnium mulierum quae fuerant in Asia c. She saith he as she was the fairest of all women in Asia so of them all she was the most intemperate Timosa as Philarchus in his Lib. 19. contends was the mistresse of Oxiartes who in the accomplishments of nature anteceded all of her age she was for her beauty thought worthy to be sent as a present from the King of Aegypt to the most excellent Queen of King Statyra but rather for a wonder of nature then a president of chastity Theopompus in his fifty sixth book of History records That Zenopithia the mother of Lysandrides was the fairest of all the women in Peloponnesus She with her sister Chryse were slain by the Lacedemonians at the time when Agesâ—laus in an uprore and mutinous sedition raised gave command That Lysandrides as his publick enemy should be banished from Lacedemon Patica Cipria was born in Cyprus Philarchus remembers her in his tenth book of history She attending upon Olympias the mother of Alexander was demanded to marriage by one Monimus the son of Pythioa But the Queen observing her to be of more beauty in face then temperance in carriage O unhappy man said she that chusest a wife by the eie not by counsell by her beauty and not behaviour Violentilla was the wife of the Poet Stella she for all accomplishments was much celebrated by Statius of her lib. 1. Syll. thus speaks Al tu pulcherrima forma Italidum tantem casto possessa marito Thou of our Latium Dames the fair'st and best Of thy chast husband art at length possest Agarista as Herodotus cals her was the daughter of Clisthenes the Syconian she was of that unexpressable form that her beauty attracted suitors from all parâ—s of Greece amongst whom Hypocledes the son of Tisander is numbred From Italy came Smyndrides Sibarites Syritanus and Damnasus From the Coast of Ionia Amphimnestrus Epidamnius Aetolus and Meges From Peloponnesus Leocides Amianthus Aâ—â—has Hâ—leus Laphanes and Phidon son to the King of the Argives From
the poison of sin from beauty which is Gods excellent workmanship from which the chast and contrite heart derives the Creators praise and glory But my hope is that in exposing unto your view the histories of these faire Wantons you will look upon them should I strip them never so naked with the eies of Lyvia that is to hold them but as beautifull statues or like Apelles his woman no better then a picture of white Marble I have heard of a man that living to the ago of threescore and ten had led so austere a life that in all that in all that time he never touched the body of a woman and had proposed to himselfe to carry that virginall vow with him to his grave but at length being visited with sicknesse and having a fair estate purchased with his small charge and great husbandry and therefore willing to draw out the thread of his life to what length he could he sent to demand the counsell of the Physitians who having well considered the estate of his body all agreed in this that since the Physick of the soul belonged not to them but only the physick of the body they would freely discharge their duties and indeed told him that his pâ—esent estate was dangerous and they found but only one way in art for his cure and recovery which was in plain terms To use the company of a woman and so took their leaves and left him to consider of it Loath was the old man to lose his Virginity which he had kept so long but more loath to part with his life which he desired to keep yet longer and having meditated with himselfe from whom he was to depart and what to leave behind him namely his possessions his monie his neighbours friends and kindred and whether he was to remove to the cold and comfortlesse grave he resolved with himselfe to prolong the comfort of the first and delay as long as he could the fear of the last Therefore he resolved rather then to be accessory to the hastning his own death to take the counsell of the doctors It was therefore so ordered by some that were about him that the next night a lusty young wench was brought to his bed one that feared not the robustious violence of youth much lesse to encounter the imbecillity of sick and weak age I know noâ— with what squeasie stomack the patient relished his physick but early in the morning he gave content to his she-Apothecary who was conveied out of the house undiscovered The next day divers of his friends comming to comfort him they found him sadly weeping and by no means could they wean him from that extasie at length the one of them who was privy to the former nights passage began to compassionate with him and told him he was sorry for his extream heavinesse and as knowing the cause said No doubt but God was merciful and wished him not to despair but be of good comfort and with ghostly councell perswaded him to take nothing to his heart because he hoped all would be well The old man told him he understood not his meaning but desired him to be more plain that he might know to what purpose his language did intend His neighbour answered him again Sir I have been acquainted with you long have known your continence and strictnesse of life and withall your abstinence from women and I am sorry that your last nights businesse should be the occasion of this melancholy and these tears To whom the sick but pretty well recovered man thus replied Neighbour you much mistake the cause of my sorrow I neither grieve nor weep for the good and wholsome physick I had the last night but I now vex and torment my selfe that I have so idly spent mine age there being such a pleasure upon earth above all that I have hitherto enjoied that I never had the grace to know it sooner and try what it was before this time If then Lust can strike this stroke and have this efficacy in age O how much should we pitty youth ready daily and hourly to run into this dangerous inconvenience Of these wantons there be two sorts Meretrices and Scorta that is Whores and common Women such as either for Lust or Gain prostitute themselves to many or all The second are Concubina or Pellices Concubines to Kings and Princes or such as we call the private mistresses to great men The last are as our Accidence teacheth like Edvardus and Gulielmus proper names to this man or that The first like Homo common to all men both degrees sinners but not in the like kind I have read a third sort but know not what consonant or agreeing name to confer upon them I have heard of some that have been called honest whores It may be those that I shall speake of were such and because they are the strangest I will begin with them first Dosithaeus lib. 3. Lydiacorum tels us that the Sardians having commenced war with the Smyrnaeâ—ns invested themselves before the City of Smyrna and having begirt them with a streight and difficult siege those of 〈◊〉 it seems being hot fellowes sent their Embassadors into the City to this purpose That unlesse they would send them their wives to adulterate at their pleasures they would not only raze their City and levell it with the earth but kill man woman and child and so extirp their memory This message bringing with it not only terror but horror much perplexed the besiâ—ged and betwixt the distractions of perpetuall infamy and most certein death not able what to determine and having sate long in councell but nothing amongst them concluded a young lusty Virago one that was handmaid or bond-woman to Philarchus desired to be admitted into the Senate And being called in amongst them to know what she had to say she told them That understanding to what miserable exigent they were driven she had dâ—â—ised so pleased them to be swaied by her direction a â—eans nâ—t only to deliver themselves from scorn their wives from dishonour and their children from the reproach of bastardy and their lives and goods from spoil but to subject the barbarous enemie into their hands with a noble and memorable victory No marvell if to such a project they gave attention when greedily demanding By what means the least of these proposed blessings might be accomplished she thus counselled them Send saith she to the â—e lustfull Sardinians and tel them you wil in all points satisfie their desires At the time appointed let me with the rest of your slaves and vassals be attired in the habits of our Lâ—dies and Mistresses for no question being deckt in their ornaments and jewels we shall appeare not only free women but sufficiently beautifull Now in the night when we are fast lodged in their embraces and they dreaming of no further dangers then their delights and that you think we have sufficiently cooled their hot courages arm your selves against
suffer Harpalus to assume the Diadem till she were likewise crowned and in Rhossus where his statue was erected in brasse she caused hers to be placed for so Clearchus writes in his history of Alexander as likewise Catanaeus Clearchus observes of her that when any fair young Lad appeared before her she used to say Then doe boies appear most beautifull when they most resemble the looks and gestures of women She was affected by Pansia Sicionius a famous Painter Harpalus the Macedonian having robbed Alexander the Great of much treasure flying to Athens sollicited there Pythonica and by many great gifts won her to his embraces she dying he profusely lavished many talents upon her obsequies and as Possidonius in his Histories affirms not only with the artificiall skill of many of the best artists and workmen but with Organs Voices and all kinds of musicall harmony decorated her funerall Dicaearchus writes That whosoever shall travell towards Athens by the sacred way called Elusinis there he shall behold a goodly Temple built in state height and compass exceeding all others which who so shall considerately peruse he shall guesse it either to be the cost of Miltiades Pericles Cimon or of some other Athenian equally with them illustrious and especially of such a one that for merit towards the Common-weal might command a voluntary contribution from the publike treasury Theopompus in an Epistle to Alexander thus carps at the intemperance of Harpalus Consider quoth he and enquire of the men of Babylon with what superfluous charge he had interred his strumpet Pythonica who was but handmaid to Bachis the she-musitian and Bachis the servant of Synope Threissa who from the City of Aegina transported her Bawdries into Athens she being not only of the third rank and degree of servants but of Bawds for with more then two hundred Talents charge he hath dedicated unto her two sumptuous monuments to the admiration of all men when it hath not been known the like honour or cost to have been bestowed by him or any other in memory of any brave souldier or of such as perished in Cilicia for the Empire and liberty of whole Greece shee only having perdurable monuments raised to her as well in Babylon as in Athens Temples and Altars with sacrifices offered her by the name of Venus Pythonica With other such upbraidings he complained on him to Alexander of whom Alâ—xis in Licisca likewise speaks as also that after her death he took to his bed the before named Glicera Next her followes Irene That Ptolomaeus that placed garrisons in Ephesus and was the son of King Philadelphus had a beautifull mistresse called Irene she when Ptolomaeus was assaulted by the Thracians in the City of Ephesus and to shun their violence fled into a Chappell consecrated to the goddesse Diana would not in that distresse forsake him but entred the place together and when the souldiers broke open the gates upon them to kil the King she removed not her hand from the ring of the door but with her own blood sprinkled the Altar till the souldiers likewise falling upon her she expired in the arms of the slaughtered King As noble was that of Danae Philarchus remembers one Sophron of Ephesus to have had in his delights Danae daughter to Leontius of the Sect of the Epicures a man well seen in the speculations of Philosophy To her trust were all the domestick affairs of the house committed even by the consent of his wife Laodice who at length perceiving his love to encline to Danae she purposed at her next best opportunity to make away with her husband This being found out by Danae and in great secrecy revealed to Sophron he gave at the first no credit to the report yet at her importunacy he promised within two daies to consider of the matter and in that time to deliberate what was best to be done in the prevention of such a mischiefe and in that interim conceals himselfe in the City by which Laodice finding her purpose to be discovered she accused Danae for his murther and instantly without further process by the help of her friends and servants hurried her to the top of a high Promontory from thence to throw her headlong who seeing imminent death before her eies fetching a deep sigh she thus said I marvell not now that the gods have so small honour done to them in regard of their injustice since I am thus punisht for saving the life of my friend and thâ—s Laodice is thus honoured that would have took away the life of her husband Agathoclaea VVArs having been long continued betwixt Ptolomey of Aegypt and Antiochus of Syria insomuch that Ptolomaeus was by his Embassadors rather by fear then necessity as it were inforced to sollicite a peace notwithstanding Antiochus invading Aegypt took from him many Towns and Cities of consequence which proffer drawing Ptolomey to the field be gave him a brave affront and foile and had he taken the advantage of a present fortune had paid him home with an irrecoverable overthrow but Ptolomey wholly devoted to effeminacy and luxury only contented with what he had recovered of his own and pursuing no further advantages made choice of a dishonourable peace before a just war and so concluded all dissention with an unalterable league And being free from all forrein invasions he began domestick troubles at home For being given over to his own appetite and besotted to his insatiate pleasures he first began with Laodice both his sister and wife causing her to be slain that he might the more freely enjoy the society and fellowship of his most rare and beautifull mistress Agathoclea so that the greatness of his name and the splendor of his majesty both set apart he abandoned himselfe solely to whoredomes by night and to banquets and all profuseness of riot by day And now liberty being grown to law the boldness of the strumpet for no better my Author stiles her cannot be contained within the wals of the Kings house which the overdotage of the King the extraordinary grace and honours conferred for her sake on her brother Agathocles together with her own ambitions growing every day more and more to greater insolence made still more manifest Nâ—xâ— there was her old mother called Evanthe a cunning Hâ—gâ—l may term her who by reason of her double issue Agathocles and Agathoclea had a great hand with the King or rather a great power over him Therefore not contented with the King alone they possess the Kingdome also They ride abroad in all state to be seen are proud to be by all saluted and with such great trains to be attended Agathocles as if â—owed to the Kings elbow was not seen without him but with a nod or word swaied and governed the City The gifts of all military honours as the Tribunes Prefects and Captains all these were appointed by the women neither was there any in the Kingdome that had lesse
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
habit and called her selfe Pelagius proceeding in that sanctity of life that where before of Pelagia she was called Pelagus Vitiorum i. A sea of Vices she was after stiled Pelagus Vertutum amarissimus Marath aquas in dulces convertens i. An Ocean of Vertues turning the most bitter Waters of Marath into sweet And thus I conclude with these Wantons wishing all such whose lives have been us ill and infamous that their ends might prove as good and glorious Explicit lib. Sextus Inscriptus Erato THE SEVENTH BOOK inscribed POLYHIMNIA or MEMORY Intreating of the Piety of Daughters towards their Parents Women to their children Sisters to their Brothers Wives to their Husbands c. THere is no gift according to Reason bestowed upon man more sacred more profitable or availing towards the attaining of the best Arts and Disciplines which include all generall Learning then Memory which may fitly be called the Treasure-house or faithful Custos of Knowledge and Unstanding Therefore with great wisdome did the Poets call her the mother of the Muses and with no lesse elegancy did they place Oblivion below in Hell in regard of their opposition and antipathy Our Memory as Sahellicus saith is a benefit lent us from above that hath her existence in Nature but her ornament and beauty from Art Alexand. ab Alex. Lib. 2. cap. 19. That the Aegyptians in their Hieroglyphicks when they would figure any man of an excellent memory they would do it by a Fox or a Hare with upright and erected ears But when they would represent one dull and blockish they did by a Crocodile That Nation of all others hath been remarkable for their admirall retention who before they knew the true use of Letters had all the passages of former ages by heart and still the elder delivered them to the younger keeping no other Records then their own remembrances Themistocles in this was eminent insomuch that Sâ—monides the Poet promising by Art to add something unto that which he had already perfect by Nature he told him he had rather he could teach him the Art of Forgetfulnesse because he was prone to remember such things as he desired to forget but could not forget such things as he gladly would not remember Cic. lib. 2. de Finibus It proceedeth from a moderate temperature of the brain and therefore may be numbred amongst the necessary good things which belong unto mankind Many men have in this been famous but few women unlesse for remembring an injury Most necessary to a good Memory is Meditation for as Ausonius saith in Ludo septem sapientâ—um Is quippe solus rei gerendae est efficax Meditatur omne qui prius negotium He only squares his deeds by measure true That meditates before what shall ensue And again Nâ—hil est quod Ampliorem Curam postulat c. Nothing there is that greater care should ask Then to sore-think ere we begin our task All humane actions justly are derided That are by Chance and not by Counsel guided There is a Proverb frequent amongst us Oportet mendacem esse memorem It behoves a Lyar to have a good memory Neither is the sentence more common then the practise is in these corrupt daies insomuch that one speaking of the generally of it thus said or to the like effect Young men have learnt to lie by practise and old men claim it by authority Gallants lie oftner to their mistresses then with them nay even womens aprons are stringed with excuses Most of our Trades-men use it in bargaining and some of our Lawyers in their pleading The Souldiers can agree with the thing it selfe but quarrels at the name of the word It hath been admitted into Aldermens Closets and sometimes into States-mens studies The Traveller makes the modestest use of it for it hath been his admittance to many a good meal At a meeting of Gentlemen about this Town whether in a Tavern or an Ordinary I am not perfect but amongst other discourse at the Table one amongst the rest began thus It is recorded saith he by a Spanish Nobleman who had been Embassador in Russia that in the time of his residence there a strange accident befel which was after this manner A poor man of the Country whose greatest means to live was by gathering stricks and rotten wood in the forrest and after to make merchandize thereof amongst the neighbour Villages he climbing a hollow tree much spent with age and that Country above many others being full of Bees as appears by their traffick of Wax and Hony of which in the bulk and concavity of the Tree there was such a quantity that treading upon a broken branch and his fâ—ot-hold failing he sell into the trunk thereof where presently he was up to the arm-pits deep in Honey besides the emptinesse above his head not being able to reach to any thing by which he might use the help of his hands In this sweet pickle he continued the space of three daies feeding upon the reliefe the place affoorded but altogether despairing ever to be released thence as not daring to cry or call out for help fearing the danger of wild beasts of which in those wildernesses there are infinite plenty But it so fell out that a mighty great Bear coming that way and by reason of the poor mans moving and stirring himselfe up and down the Tree smelling the Honey which they say Bears have appetite unto above all other things whatsoever he mounts the Tree and as their custome is not daring to thrust in their heads first as fearing to fall headlong provident Nature hath allowed them that foresight as catching fast hold upon the top with their fore-feet with one of their hinder legs as with a plummet they sound the depth of the place and how far it is to the commodity for which they come to search All this the Bear did at such time as the miserable poor man was casting his arms abroad to catch hold of any thing by which he might raise himselfe out of that pittiful Purgatory who meeting with such an unexpected Pulley or Crane catch fast hold upon the Bears leg at which the beast being suddenly affrighted fearing to leave one of his limbs behind him drew it up with such a mighty strength that he pluckt out the man withall to the top where he first fell in by which means the poor wretches life was preserved and the affrighted Bear as if the Devil had been at his tail never looked back till he had got into the thickest part of the wildernesse His discourse being ended and every one admiring the strangenesse of the accident a Traveller that sat next affirmed it for truth as being then in the Country at the same time and thereupon took occasion to discourse of the Cities the Rivers the Manners and Dispositions of the people and withall the coldnesse of the Clime which in some places saith he I protest is so extream that one of my Country men and I talking
he is no sooner dead but they all contend together which of them was of him in his life time best beloved and if it cannot be determined amongst themselves they bring the controversie before the Judges and plead as earnestly to accompany him in death as for some great fortune and honour she amongst the rest that prevails exults with joy as having attained a great victory when being led by her best friends and neerest of kindred partakes with her in the same triumph unto the place where her husbands body is to be consumed with a pleasant and merry countenance she casts her selfe into the fire and is there burned with him together the rest that survive and were deprived of this last honor consume the remainder of their lives in great discontent sorrow and anguish Of this custome Cicero remembers us Tusâ— Quaest lib. 5. Valer. Maxim lib. 2. cap. 1. Alex. aâ— Alex. Alianus Egnatius and others This funerall ceremony as Fulgos lib. 2. cap. 6. is continued amongst them unto this day alluding to this purpose is that of Propert lib. 3. Foelix cöâ—s lex funeris una maritis c. Which I thus paraphrase in English You Eastern Husbands in your funerall Lawes Most happy and their first inventors wise In which you are more famous then because On you the blushing morning first doth rise When Death hath with his last mortiferous wound The Husband struck his last Rites to prepare A pious troop of wives engirt him round Drying their moist cheeks with their scatt'red hair Who strive which shall associate him in fate And bed with him together in the flame To live beyond him is a thing they hate And he once dead life is to them a shame She that can die with him hath her desire And leaps with joy into the funerall fire The like is observed by a people of Thrace that inhabit a little above the Crestonaeans They likewise are delighted with plurality of wives who after the decease of their husbands enter into the like contention as the women of India and she that is Victoresse as if glorying in some great conquest adorned in her best and richest ornaments is with great ceremonious pomp amongst all her kindred and allies conducted unto the place where his body is to be interred where being slaine by her next of Kin as the best office he can do her she is buried in the same grave with her husband Herod lib. 5. The wives amongst the Geates repair to their husbands sepulchre and holding al life tedious and burthensome without them other their bodies willingly either the sword or to the fire The Custome of the Catheoreans was That when the Bride choose her husband she made a covenant with him at his death to be burnt in the same Pile Alex. ab Alex. lib. 1. cap. 25. The women amongst the Herulians a people that inhabit beyond the river of Danubius repair to the graves of their husbands and just over against them strangle themselves Which marriage-love appears the more strange because the men are of that barbarous and inhumane incontinence that they hold it no shame to leave the society of their women and have congression with brute beasts Bonifacius in his Epistle unto King Ethelbalaus as Gaâ—â—elm Masmsbur lib. 1. cap. 64. de Anglia relates it saith That the Winedi are the worst and the most nasty people among the Germans yet their wives are of that incomparable zeâ—i and piety toward their husbands that she is held to be the most laudable and praise-worthy that with her own hand kils her selfe to burn with him to his last funerall fire From the generality of women I descend to particulars Admirable was the love of Phila towards her husband King Demetrius and haughty and magnanimous her spirit who receiving newes of his defeat in battel and that his whole army being dispersed and scattered he was retired into Cassandria drank poison and so died The wife of Straton Prince of Sydonia when the City was straitly besieged by the Persians her greatest care was lest the person of her husband should fall into the hands of the mercilesse enemy which she purposed to prevent by death When therefore she heard they had scaled the wals and were ready to be instantly possest of the Town and seize upon the person of her husband she snatcht from him his sword with which she first slew him and then laying out his body with as much comlinesse as the shortnesse of the time would permit after fell upon the same sword thus by voluntary death preventing the dishonour of captivity Fulgos lib. 4. cap. 6. Fannia the daughter of Arria the younger wife to Poetus Patavinus before remembred in her brave and heroick death with her husband was the spouse of Helvidius Priscus who followed him in all his exile even to his unfortunate and most unjust death she was the third time confin'd from the reign of Tiberius Nero. to the death of Domitian Pliny with infinite praises applauds the incomparable vertues of this Fannia with both the Arrias in Lib. 9. in his Epistle to Quadratus and in his seventh to Genitor and Priscus Triaria was the noble and chast wife of L. Vitellius brother to Aul. Vitellius the Emperor who as Hypsicrataea followed Mithridates in all his combustious wars so she never forsook her husband but was present with him in all those civil dissentions against Vespasian And the night when Vitellius her Lord with a great army of Souldiers invaded and entred the City Terecyna she presented her selfe in the middest of the slaughter not only daring but doing equally with the most valiant killing on all sides till she had hemmed her selfe in with dead bodies slaine by her own hand so bold and magnanimous a spirit had the conjugall love to her husband imprest in her Her memory is made famous by the same Author Antonia Flaxilla by some called Archona when her husband Priscus was found guilty of the Pysonian Faction and for that cause exiled by Nero and when she might have enjoied all the plenty and abundance in Rome left all the pleasures and delights of the City to accompany her desolate Lord in his penurous and uncomfortable banishment Her example Egnatia Maximilla imitated who likewise associated her husband Gallus guilty of the same conspiracy with Priscus Fulgos lib. 6. c. 7. From Jacobus the son of Vsson Cassannus amongst many other Captains that revolted there was one eminent in that rebellion called Pandoerus who had a most beautiful young wife her age exceeded not sixteen years to whom he was ardently and in conjoined love affected He being by her often earnestly entreated to forbeare all conflicts with the enemy but by no means either moved by her tears or perswaded by her intercessions and praiers persisting resolute for a present encounter she then begged of him That before he hazarded himselfe to the extremity of danger he would first take away her fears
it was called The work of Acecaeus and Helicon Above others most magnified by Ovid. Metamorph. lib. 6. is Arachne Lydia the daughter of Idmones whose mother was born in the smal City Hypepis she having by many degrees exceeded all mortall women and that without difficulty durst compare with Minerva her selfe who for her boldnesse and pertinacy she turned into a Spider Her controversie with Pallas is with great elegancy expressed in Ovid. Alexander of Macedon and Octavius Augustus the one wore a Garment woven by his Mother the other a Mantle by the hands of his Wife These Ladies had sequestred places in some part of their Pallaces and kept their hand-maids and damosels at work of which these two potent and mighty Queens disdained not to be the daily Directoresses and Over-seers Alex. ab Alex. cap. 4. lib. 8. Part of the Wool which Tanaquil spun with her Distaffe Spindle and Slippers were long time reserved as sacred Reliques in the Temple of Ancus Martius as also a Kingly Garment or Imperiall Robe woven quite through with Raies and Flames of Gold wrought with her own hand in which Servius Tullius oft went in state and saâ—e in the high Judgement-Seat in the Capitol Varro apud eundem By the Law called Pagana all women were forbidden to spin or draw out any thread in the streets or common high waies because they held it ominous to the prosperity of the Grain sown in the Earth or the Fruits blossomed or growing upon the Trees as the same Author testifies Ausonius speaks af one Sabina not only excellent in this Science but a Poet withall which he left to posterity in one of his Epigrams Sive probas Tyrio textam sub tegmine vestra Seu placet inscripti commoditus tituli c. Which is thus Englished If thou affect'st a purple Robe Woven in the Tyrian stain Or if a Title well inscrib'd By which thy wit may gain Behold her works unpartially And censure on them well Both one Sabina doth professe And doth in both excell And thus I take leave of weaving for Memory now transports me to another Argument Of Women Contentious and Bloody TExtor in his Ossicine remembers us of one Kailla who was of that barbarous and inhumane cruelty that being at dissention with her husband Vazules she having banished all conjugall piety and pitty caused his eies to be digged out of his head spending the remainder of his age in uncomfortable darknesse These subsequent stories of flinty and obdure hearted women though I could willingly have spared them out of this work that the world might almost be induced to beleeve that no such immanities could ever have place in the smooth and soft bosomes of women yet in regard I have promised briefly to run over all Ages Features Affections Conditions and Degrees though they might perhaps have been thought well spared by some yet I make no question but that they might be challenged at my hands by others The rather I present them and with the more confidence unto your view because though their actions to the tender breasted may seem horrid and fearful and therefore the hardlier to purchase credit yet the testimony of the Authors being authentick and approved will not only bear me out as their faithfull remembrancer but in the things themselves fasten an inherent beleefe I proceed therefore Cyrce the Witch slew the King of Sarmatia to whom she was married and usurping the regall throne did much oppresse her subjects of her Saâ—â—llâ—cus writes more at large Clitemnestra was the wife of Agamemnon Arch Duke or Generall of the Grecians at the siege of Trâ—y she by the help of Aegistus with whom she adulterated slew her husband of this Virgil speaks lib. 11. Seneca in Agâ—memnon and Juvenal in Satyr Danaus the son of 〈◊〉 had fifty 〈◊〉 who were espoused to the fifty son of Aegustus 〈◊〉 made a eonjuration in one night to kill all their husbands which they accordingly did all save the 〈…〉 who spared the liâ—e of her husband 〈…〉 Hercul Fur. Alexander Phaeâ—cus a Tyrant of 〈◊〉 when he had shewed his wife 〈◊〉 to a 〈…〉 it so impatiently that she cut his throat sleeping Ovid in Ibâ—n Volâ—teâ—ranus repoâ—e that Albina daughter to a King of Syria had two and thirty sisters who all in one night slew their husbands who being exil'd their Countrie landed in Brittain and that of this Albina this kingdome first took the name of Albion Laodice was the wife of Antiochus King of Syria who caused himself to be call'd God the poison'd her husband because of his too much familiarity with 〈◊〉 the sister of Ptolomey Fabia slew Fabius Fabricianue that she might the more freely enjoy the company of Petronius Volentanus a young man of extraordinary feature with whom she had often before accompanied Agrippina poisoned her husband Tiberius Claudius the Emperor Lucilla the wife of Antonius Verus Emperor poisoned her husband because she thought him too familiar with Fabia Aaâ—â—oâ—us Prince of Ferolivium married with the daughter of Joannes Bentivolus of whom being despised and finding her self neglected she hired certain cot-throat Physitians who slew him in his chamber Andreas the son of Carolus King of Pannonia was slain by his wife Joanna Queen of Sicily for no other reason but that he was iâ—le and held unprofitable to the weal publick Althaea sorrowing that her two brothers Plexippus and Toxeus were slain by her son Meleager she burned that Brand of which the fattall Sisters had made a prediction That his life and health should continue as long as that was preserved Ovid Trist lib. 1. Bocat in General Agave a Theban woman slew her son Penthaeus because he would not honour the feast of the Baâ—hinals with the rest of the Menades Virg. in Culiceâ—â—â—ctha taking arms against Eumolpus and having an answer from the Oracle That he should have a certain victory of the would sacrifice his only daughter to the gods by the perswâ—sion of his wife Prâ—xitha gave her up to slaughter Euripides apud Plutarch Elearchus one of the Kings of Creet at the perswasion of his second wife Phroâ—â—ma commanded is only daughter by the hand of one Themisones to be cast into the river and there drowned Herodot Polidice betraied her father King Pletera to Crocon King of Thebes and caused him to be slain as likewise Niâ—us being besieged by Minos by the treason of his daughter lost that purple hair which was the stay of his sovereignty Ovid Metam and Servius Tiphon Aegyptius as Berosus Seneca Diodorus and other relate slew his brother Osiris then reigning in Aegypt and governing justly which done he caused him to be cut in twenty six pieces and to every one of the conspirators gave a part the better to secure him of their fidelities but Isis their sister after she had lamented the death of her brother Osiris by the assistance of her son who was called Oâ—os flew Tiphon and avenged his death Draomitia was a Queen of Bohemia
other sister for if he were never so much given to wrath and anger she would teach him sufferance and patience Laertius when Georgias the Sophist at the solemnity of the Olympick games had made an elaborate Oration concerning concord and to perswade men to uninity one Mâ—lanthius in the conclusion or catastrophe thereof spake aloud This man perswades all Greece to peace who having but one wife and three maids at home yet his house is never without clamour and dissention and with all his smooth filed phrases cannot make his own peace Eras 6. Apophtheg Mar. Pacuvius upon a time said weeping to his familiar friend and neighbor Actius alias Arius Deer friend saith he I have a tree in my garden in my mind the most prodigious and unhappy that ever the earth produced or gave sap unto for upon that my first wife hanged her selfe and after that the second and now but this morning my third and last to whom Arius his neighbour replied I wonder you being a learned man and approved for your wisdome should be any way grieved at these successes and chances Dâ—i boni inquit quot tibi dispendia arbor iste suspendit i. Oh you gods how many of thy dammages and losses hast thou hanged upon that tree and proceeded thus Deer friend give me some of those grafts and syents that I may plant them in my Orchard or garden Valerius records this in an Epistle to Rufinus As also Cicero reports the like of a Cicilian in 2 de Orat. and Gyraldus Dial. 8. Poetarum Even Cato Ceasortus could not escape a brawling and crabbed wiâ—e though he married her from an ignoble stock and family Guid Bitturn saith That Hadrianus had a wife called Sabina hard perverse untoward rude in her behaviour towards her husband and worthy to be repudiated and her bed and society abandoned Alphonsus King of Naples demanding of one Antonius Panormita What noble Neapolitan Gentlemen were delighted in Hunting or whether any late Writer had published any Treatise concerning the goodnesse and excellency of dogs To whom Panormitâ— answered I beseech thee O King rather ask this Knight pointing to one that was then in presence who can better resolve you who for the space of forty years hath been continually so conservant amongst such creatures that every night he beddeth with a Canicula which word as it signifieth a Bâ—ach or Bitch so it is taken for a detractor or snarling slanderer as also for a Dog-fish and proceeded Therefore he O King can best describe unto you their natures and conditions This Knight of Naples whose name for his honors sake is concealed only smiled at the taunt given by Antonius well apprehending that by Canicula he intended his wife a woman barkingly clamorous most contentious and bitter Pontanus Gregorius Hamburgensis a famous ond eloquent Lawyer amongst all the German practisers the most approved when all his busie imploiments were ended in the Court of Caesar where he was staied some two months or thereabouts and as we say in our English phrase the Terme being and he returning home to his own house not far from the Town of Nurimburgh where he then dwelled he met with a friend and neighbour who after some familiar salutes past betwixt them told him That his wife was living and in good health at home to whom shaking his head he made this short reply 〈◊〉 vivit saneobâ—◠〈◊〉 If my wife be living then am I but dead thereby intimating that the moâ—osity of a câ—rst wife is no better then a daily death to her husband Aeneas 〈…〉 reb Gestis Alphonsâ—â— Thisponius the 〈…〉 of the learned Councel to King Alphonsus having at one time three hundred pieces of Gold stoln from 〈◊〉 which was part of the Dower of a perverse and peevish 〈◊〉 whom he had lately married for which being wondrous 〈◊〉 and pensive in the presence of the King Alphoâ—sus looking upon him and seeming to commiserate his sadnesse broke out into these terms O how happy a man were Thisponius if the theeves had stolne away his wife and left the Gold behind them Pâ—normita lib 1 de Gestis Alphons Euripides the most excellent of thâ— Greek Tragick Poets had two wives the name of the first was Cherâ—le or as Sâ—â—das cals her Chaerinâ— the daughter of Mâ—nâ—silâ—chus by whom he had three sons Mâ—â—siloches the Actor or Stage-plaier Mnesarchides the Merchant and the third Euâ—â—pides the Orator yet partly for suspition of adultery and by reason he led with her an unquiet life after so hopeful an issue she was divorced from him After this separation he married another called Melitto who being apprehended in adultery with Ctesiphon the Plaier he was so branded for a Cuckold and so taunted and jeasted at by the Comick Poets in the publique Theater that he was forced to leave the City and to remove himselfe into Macedonia where he spent the remainder of his life in the Court of King Archelaus Gel. lib. 15. cap. 20. Athenaeus lib. 13. Arnus Tarquinius and Tullâ—a lived together in perpetuall discord and dissention by reason of her unto 〈◊〉 and crabbed condition Adrianus Bâ—rlâ—ndus tels us of an Inne keeper or Host a pleasant and trolick fellow who when a guest of his complained unto him that he â—ould not endure such noise and clamour for his wives tongue never ceased walking finding fault with this thinâ— then that besides there was no cessation of her perpetuall brawling and chiding with her maids and servants To whom the merry Host replied And I pray my friend is this a just cause for your impatience or discontent What do you think of me then that for two and thirty yeers space have had this noise and clamour continually in mine eaâ—s night and day without ceasing and yet you see with what sufferance I bear it and cannot you endure it for the space of a few minutes By which words he not only gave present satisfaction to his guest but converted his wives anger into laughter Servius Tullius King of the Romans conferr'd upon his two daughters upon the two Tarquins Aruns and Superbus of severall dispositions were the men and of sundry conditions the women as they were opposite in humour they were as unfitly disposed To Aruns a man of a quiet and â—â—ld temper Tullia Lady 〈◊〉 and daring was given on Superbus a Prince haughty and insolâ—nâ— the other being a modest and â—eek Lady was bestowed Disparity of minds could not brook the inequality of manners Therefore bold and bloody Tullia poisons her faire and gentle conditioned Aruns the other modest and mild-tempered sister is made away by the proud and ambitious Superbus the best are lost the worst left They two contract an incestuous Marriage Pride with Cruelty and Immanity with Ambition Murther is the ground oâ— cause and Treason and Usurpation the prodigious effect she complots the death of her own naturall father and he the ruine of his liege Lord and Sovereign she a Parâ—icide he a Râ—gicide The
am loath to dwel too long in the Proem I will now give you their names with a particular of their works who have been in many or most of these eminent Poetriae Or Women Poets OF the Sybils the Muses Priests and Prophetesses included amongst those whom we called Vates I have already spoken at large I now proceed to others Theano Locrensis was so called as born in the City of Locâ—is she writ Hyms and Lyrick Songs she was also a musicall Poetesse such as were called Melicae There was a second of that name the wife of Pythagoras a Poetesse besides a third called Thuria or Metapontina daughter of the Poet Lycophron a Pythagorist and wife of Caristius or Brantinus Crotoniata Teste Suida Nicostrata was otherwise called Carmentis skilful both in the Greek and Latine Dialect of a quick and nimble wit and conversant in divers kinds of Learning Sulpitia lived in the time of the Emperor Domitianus her husbands name was Galenus or Gadenus with whom she lived in most conjoined wedlock for the space of fifteen years Some fragments of her Poetry I have read inserted amongst the Works of Ausonius Of her Martial in one of his Epigram lib. 10. thus writes Oh molles tibi quindecim Calene Quos cum Sulpitia tua jugales Indulsit Deus peregit annos c. O those soft fifteen yeers so sweetly past Which thou Calenus with Sulpitia hast In jugall consociety no doubt A time by the gods favoured and pickt out O every Night nay Hour mark'd by thy hand With some rich stone fetch'd from the Indian strand What wars what combats have betwixt you been But to your Bed and Lamp not known or seen Of any Happy Bed and Tapers grace Made of sweet Oils whose smoak perfumes the place Thrice five yeers thou hast liv'd Calenuâ— thus Reckoning by that account thine Age to us So to compute thy yeers is thy great'st pride No longer to have liv'd then with thy Bride Were Atropos at thy entreats content To give thee back one day so sweetly spent Thou at a higher rate wouldst prize that one Then four times Nestors Age to live alone This Epigram hath expressed the love of Calenus to Sulpitia the husband to the wife but in 35 of the same book her pious Love chast Muse and Beauty the same Author hath most elegantly illustrated his words be these Omnes Sulpitiam legant puellae Vno quae cupiunt viro pâ—acere Omnes Sulpitiam legant mariti Vnae qua cupâ—unt placere nuptae c. All women 〈◊〉 Sulpitia such as can In their desires betake them to one man All husbands read Sulpitia such whose life Can be contented with one single wife She never spake of mad Medeas sin Nor why Thyestes Banquet was serv'd in It never with her pure thoughts could agree A Scilla or a Biblis there could be Save chast and pious Loves she did not write Yet mixt with modest pleasures and delight Her Verses who shall read and read again And sift them well shall find them without slain Such were the words divine Egeria spake The wife of Nâ—ma when she did betake Her self to solitude Had Sâ—pho been Tutor'd by her her Poems read and seen More chast sh ' had been with greater Art endu'd Or had rude Phaon these together view'd And both their beauties well observ'd and noted He that left her had on Sulpitia doted c. Seneca speaks of one Michaele a she Centaur who in an â—legant Poem instructed the Thessalians in the Remedy of Love whom Ovid in his Remedium Amorâ—s is said to have imitated Aristophanes as also Suidas speak of one Charixâ—na the Author of many excellent works amongst others she writ a Poem called Crumata Caelius lib. 8. cap. 1 speaks of Musaeâ— an Epigrammaâ—ist in which kind she was eminent besides she composed sundry Lyricks Textor remembers us of one Moeroe who besides her other works is most celebraâ—ed for a Hymn to Neptune Manto was the daughter of Tyresia the Propheresse of her the famous City Mantua took name she was not only a Poetesse but famous for her Dâ—vinations for by the entrails of beasts she could foretel things to come Textor Cornisicia was the sister of the Poet Cornisicius and famous for many excellent Epigrams Luccia 〈◊〉 as Pliny reports of her was a writer of Comedies in which practice she continued no lesse then an hundred years Amongst the Poets Cassandra the Propheâ—esse daughter to â—riam and Hecuba is also numbred 〈◊〉 Hermonaicus 〈◊〉 Camelion saith writes of a Poetesse called Megalostrate beloved of the Poet Alâ—mon he that first devised the amatorious Verse in which was expressed all lascivious intemperance which some attribute to Thamyris as their first inventor she Amatores vel ipsis colloquiis ad se trahere potuit i. She with her very discourse could attract lovers she was tearmed Flava Megalostrate Athenae lib. 13 cap. 16. Polla Argentaria was wife to the famous Poet Lucan and hath a merited place in this Catalogue of whom Martial thus speaks Haec est illa dies quae magni conscia partus Lucanum populis tibi Polla dedit This day of that great birth made conscious is Which gave him to the world and made thee his She was reputed to be of that excellent learning that she assisted her husband in the three first books entituled Pharsalia Her Stasius lib. 2. Sylv. thus remembers Haeâ— Castae titulum decusque Polla She likewise writ excellent Epigrams As much as Statius of her Plin. Secundus speaks of his wife Calphurnia Fulgos lib. 8. cap 3. Aspasia Milesia the beloved of Pericles as she was otherwise learned she is likewise numbred amongst the Poet some of whose Verses are remembred by Athenaeus Hedyle was the mother of Hedylogus Samius who by the same Athenaeus lib. 4. Dypnoph hath allotted him a place amongst the Poets she was the daughter of Moschina Attica that writ lambicks This Hedyle composed a Poem inscribed Scylla she made another called The Loves of Glaucus Sosipatra as Eugapius Volaterran relates was a woman practised in many kinds of Disciplines and so excellent in all her studies that she was said to be educated by the gods Thymele was a Poetesse that first introduced Dances into the Scene which the Greeks from her call Dumelin i. The place which is only free for the Actors Of her Martial thus speaks Quae Thymele spectas derisoremque Latinum Suidas writes That Thymele was an Altar frequently used in the Theaters which from her borrowed the name Hildegardis Moguntina was eminent both for Learning and Piety insomuch that from her very child-hood she seemed inspired from above Eugenius the third in the Council held at Tryer where Doctor Bernard was then present approved her Works she flourished in the yeare of Grace 1188. Of Clitagora Lacedemonia Aristophanes speaks much but Stravo in Homerica Iliade more of Hesteia Alexandria Avyle writ Epigrams against Themistocles with verses upon Birds which are read unto
in Gyraldus in 30. Dialog Histor Poet. Bocho a penurious and needy woman of Delphos who composed Hymns and pronounced Oracles she is remembred by Gyraldus Dialog 20. Elephantis or Elephantina was a woman most wickedly wanton and of notorious intemperance She as Spinthria described the severall waies and figures of Congresse and Copulation from whose books â—alage presents a gift to Priapus in Priapaeis Poematibus and Tiberius Caesar builded that chamber wherein were discovered the omnivarious shapes of beastly preposterous Luxuries lest any president oâ— dishonest brotherly should be left unremembred Pâ—oba Valeria Falconia a Roman Matron and wife to Adelphus Romanus the Proconsul a man of noble and religious carriage flourished in the reigns of Honorius and Theodosius the Junior Emperors She composed a Divine Work of the Life and Miracles of Christ which she entitled Cento Virgilianum she dedicated it to the Empresse Eudocia wife of Theodosius She also paraphrased upon the Verses of Homer and called the Work Homeâ—oukentra which some would confer upon Eudocia Her husband being dead she is said to have inscribed upon his Tomb this or the like Epitaph To God to Prince Wife Kindred Friend the Poor Religious Loiall True Kind Stedfast Deer In Zeal Faith Love Blood Amity and Store He that so liv'd and so deceas'd lies here Amongst these and not unproperly are numbred the Sybils but I have spoken of them in their place therefore I proceed to others and next of Telesilla Telesilla Poetria THis incomparable Lady I know not where to equipage or in what rank to place whether amongst the women illustrious for Vertue or amongst the Warlike women imitating the Amazonians for their noble courage and valour amongst the Chast the Fair or the Wise as being a most famous and learned Poetesse her History I will give you in briefe Amongst the memorable and remarkable acts attempted and atchieved by women there is none more glorious or better deserving a Chronicle of perpetuity than that performed by the Argive women against King Cleomenes by the perswasion and incouragement of Telesilla the Poetesse she was born of a noble family and in her youth being subject to many infirmities of the body she asked counsell of the gods concerning her health answer was returned from the Oracle That she should apply her selfe to the study of the Muses and imploy all her industry in verse and harmony Not long it was ere recovering her health she grew to that perfection of Art especially in Poetry that she was only held in admiration amongst all other women Cleomenes King of Sparta opposing the Argives with all the rigor hostility could make and having slain of them an infinite number almost incredible to relate for so â—aith Plutarch in revenge of this losse a notable courage and an unspeakable boldnesse inspired the hearts of these Argive women insomuch that under the conduct of Telesilla whom they made their Generall they took arms to maintain their fortresses guard and defend the wâ—ls and issue out upon the enemy not without admiration and terror to the besiegers insomuch that Cleomenes was repulsed with the losse of many of his souldiers Another King as Socrates saith called Demaratus who besieged Pamphiliacum they sent thence with losse and infamous retreat The City thus by their valour preserved all such women as fel in the conflict the inhabitants honouâ—â—bly interred in a place called Via Argiva i. The Argive way and to the survivers as a memorable gratitude to their vertues and valours they granted a famous solemnitie call'd the dedication of Mars This battel was fought as some say in the seventh day others in the new Moon of the Month which is now call'd the fourth but by the Argives was of old called Hermaâ—â— or Mercurialis as that day they yearly celebrate the great Feast stiled Hybristica in which the women are habited like men and the men are attired in vestures of women And And to make good the losse of so many men that perished in the late combustions the macrons did not as Herâ—dotus affirms matcht with their slaves and servants but they joined themselves in marriage to the best and noblest of the next adjoining Cities upon whom notwithstanding they cast such a contemptible neglect that they enacted a law which enjoined all married women stil to put beards upon their faces when they first went to bed to their husbands Perhilla was a young Roman Lady who lived in the time of Augustus Caesar it seems of no great noble family nor extraordinary riches only of an admirable wit and excellent facility in Poetry she was scholer to Ovid who enterchanged with her and she with him many Elegies and Epigrams she flourished in the time of his banishment Her works it seems never came to light but that she was answerable to the Character I have given her I refer you to his seventh Elegie in his third book de Tristibus in which he gives her an approved testimony the title is Mandat Epistolam ut Perâ—illam Adeat which the better to expresse of what condition she was and that speaking of Poetesses it will not be amiss a little to Poetise I thought thus to English Vade salutatum c My wandring Letter to Perhiâ—la go Greet her as one that doth my mind best know Find her thou shalâ— or with her mother sit Or ' mongst her books and Muses searching wit What ere she be adoing when she knowes Thee thither come her work away she throwes And without least delay she will enquire Wherefore thou com'st or what thou canst desire Tell her I live but so as life â—moning Mischiefs augment but do not ease my groaning Though by the Muses harm'd I love their name And to even numbers how my words to frame Still do you to your common studies cling And your learn'd Verse to forrâ—ign fashions sing Nature that gave you beauty though â—t fit To add rare Gifts chast Manners and choice Wit I taught you first from Helicon to write Lest such a fertil Spring should perish quite I saw how far in youth it did extend I was your Father Captain and your Friend If the same fires within your breast still live To none save Lesbian Sapho tâ—e Palm give I fear my fate your forwardnesse may slack And from your course my fortunes pluck you back The time was when your Lines to me were read And when by me your Muse was censured 'T was lawfull then with both and in those daies You did me as your Judge and Tutor praise Either unto your Verses I gave ear Or made you blush when I forbore to hear Perhaps by my example since my Muse Hath done me hurt that practise you 'l not use And fear because I suffer in my Art That in my ruin you shall bear a part Fear not Perhilla for no woman shall Or man by thy Muse learn to love at all Therefore most learn'd all cause of sloth adjourn And to these sacred Arts
him the issue of Polybus the son of Mercury and Euboea Promothidas Heraclâ—ota derives him from Phorbus and the Nymph Pampaea born in Aothedon a famous City of Boeâ—tia Thelytus Methimnaeus in his Bacchick numbers brings his progenie from Nopaeus Epicus in one of his hymns from Evanthes the son of Neptune and Maedis He is said to have ravisht Syma the daughter of Iclemis and Doris and to have transported her into Asia and was after married to Hidua the daughter of Sydnus Scioneus one that used to dive and fetch things up from the bottome But of his issue there is nothing left remembred It is commented of him that being a fisherman and having taken more fishes then he could carry upon his back with ease and laying down his burden to rest him by the shore there grew an herb which the dead fishes no sooner touched or tasted but they instantly recovered life and one by one leapt into the sea he by tasting the same herb to prove the vertue thereof was forced to leap after them and so was made a Sea-god Others are of opinion that wearied with the tediousnesse of his age hee willingly drowned himselfe The wives and daughters of Proteus ZEtzes in his foure and fortieth history cals Proteus the sonne of Neptune and the nymph Phenica who travelling from Aegypt into Phlegra there took to wife Torone by whom he had three sonnes Toronus Timilus and Telegonus all wicked and bloody minded men who for their cruelty perisht by the hands of Hercules Euripides speaks of one Psamethes a second wife by whom he had Theonone and Theolymenus He had moreover these daughters Cavera Rhetia and Idothaea This was she that when Menelaus doubted of his returne into his countrey having sojourned somewhat long in Aegypt counselled him to apparell himselfe and his followers in the fresh skins of Porposes and counterfeit themselves to sleep amongst these Sea-cattell and that about the heat of the day at what time Proteus used to come out of the deeps upon the dry land and there take a nap with his Porposes then to catch fast hold on him sleeping and notwithstanding all his changeable shapes and figures not to dismisse him till he had reduc'd himself to his own naturall form and then hee would predict to him whatsoever was to come This counsell given by Idothaea Homer excellently expresseth in his fourth book of his Odyssaea It is said of him that he could change himselâ—e sometimes into water and againe to fire to 〈…〉 birds trees or serpents c. Neither did this mutability of shape belong to him onely for we read the like of Thetis and Mestra or Metre the daughter of Eresicthan the Thessalian Periclemenus the son of Neleus and Polymela and brother of Nestor obtained the same gift of Neptune of him Euphorâ—on and Hesiod speaks more at large Empusa is remembred by Aristophanâ—s to have the same faculty and dexterity in changing her shape so likewise Epicharmus Empusa planta bos fit atque vipera Lupisque musca pulchra illa semina Quicquid cupit vel denique ille conferat Empusa is made a plant an â—xe a viper A stone a flie and a fair woman too What she desires that she doth still resemble The Poets in these changing of shapes and turning themselves into so many sundry sorts of creatures importing nothing else but the wisdome of such persons who have searcht into the hidden mysteries of Philosophy and acquired the natures and properties of water fire herbs 〈◊〉 and plants beasts birds and serpents in which being perfect they may be and not altogether unproperly said to change themselves into the similitudes of so many creatures The daughters of Phorcis THis Phorcis whom the Latines call Phorcus was the sonne of Terra and Pontus the Earth and the Sea as Hesiod in his Theogonia makes him But Varro will have him to be the issue of Neptune and the Nymph Thosea He had besides those daughters begot one Ceto the Phâ—rcidae namely the Gorâ—ons and Thoosa who lay with Neptune and brought forth the Cyclops Polyphemus as Homer witnesseth He is called also the father of the serpent that kept the Heâ—perides by Hesiod But I will forbear the rest to speak something of his daughter Medusa Medusa She for her lust and immoderate appetite to inchastity incurred the ire of the gods being so impudent as to suffer the imbraces of Neptune in the â—emple of Minerva There were divers of that name one the daughter of Priam another of Sthenelus and Niciope Paâ—sanias in Corinthiacis cals her the daughter of Phorhus others of 〈◊〉 sea-monster which I take to be Phorcus before mentioned Minerva for the prophanation of her Temple being grievously incens'd thought to punish her in those hairs which a little before were so wondrous pleasing to Neptune and turned them into hissing and crawling snakes giving her this power that whosoever gazed upon her face should be in the instant converted into stone Isacius is of opinion that that was not the cause of her calamity but relates it another way That Medusa was of Pisidia and the fairest of all women who glorying in her feature but especially the beauty of her hair dared to contend with Pallas which arrogant impudency the goddesse heinously taking her hair in which she so ambitiously gloried she changed into filthy and terrible snakes and then gave her that killing look before mentioned but pitying at length so generall a mischiefe incident to mortall men by that means she sent Perseus the son of Jupiter and Dana or rather as some wil have it he was imploied by Polydectes King of the Seriphians to cut off her head who having before received a hooked skein called Harpe from Mercury and a shield from Pallas came to the â—en called Tritonides amongst whose inhabitants she exercised her mischiefe and first approaching Pephredo and Aenio two of the Phorcidae and of the Gorgonian sisterhood who were old and wrinckled crones from their nativity they had betwixt them but one eie and one tooth which they did use by turns and when they went abroad or when they had no occasion to imploy them laid them up in a casker for so Ascilus relates He borrowed of them that eie and tooth neither of which he would restore till they had brought him to the Nymphs with winged shooes which taking from them and being armed with the Helmet of Pluto the sword of Mercury and the mirrour of Pallas he fled to Tartessus a City of Iberiae where the Gorgons then inhabited whose heads crawled with adders whose teeth were like the tusks of a boare their hands of brasse and their wings of gold and there arriving found them asleep and spying her head in Minerva's glasse in which he still looked it directed him so that at one blow be cut it off out of whose blood Pegasus sprung forth The other two sisters Sthumo and Aeuryale awaking and this seeing with the loud hissing of these innumerable
and wonderfull beauty bred in the City of Phocis who as Zenophanes saith was first called Milto and after Aspasia Of these in generall Juvenal with great elegancy speaks in his Satyrs Nil non permittit mulier sibi turpe putat nil Cum virâ—des gemmas collo circumedit cum Auribus extentis magnos committit elenchos There 's nothing that a woman will respect Nothing so vile or odious that she fears So she with glistring Jewels may be dect And have great pendant Pearls weight down her ears Of Mista and others PHilarchus observes this Mysta to be much favoured by the King Seleucus who being expelled by the Galathians and hardly escaping with life when his Pallace was seized and surprized she casting aside all her Princely ornaments put on a servile habit and mingled her selfe in the society of her handmaids and servants having so disguised her selfe that she remained unknown and by that means was sold amongst the rest at a smal rate and bought by the Rhodian Merchants to whom after she disclosed her selfe They to insinuate into the favour of Seleucus who had recovered his former fortunes sent her to him nobly attended in great state and magnificence of whom she was accordingly received and they most bounteously rewarded Antecyra as Caelius lib. 13. cap. 6. reports was a famous or rather infamous strumpet so called because she yielded up her body to lunaticks and mad men or else because the Physiâ—ian Nicostratus at his death left her such a quantity of Hellebore Colvia Crisalpina is called by Tacitus lib. 17. the stale mistresse of Nero's lust an apt pupil for such a tutoresse Apollodorus and Caelius write of two sisters called Stragonium and Anthis both of the veneral profession These were by a nickname called by some Aphiae because of the smalnesse of their statures and the greatnesse of their eies Cynna Saluacha and Casauria were three famous strumpets or Athens many times remembred by Aristophanes in his Comedies Hemippus lib. 1. de Aristot speaks of Herpillides the Paramour of Aristotle he had by her a son called Nicomochus Melissa the daughter of Proclaeis as Pythenetus in his third book de Aegina relates was beloved of Periander ex Epâ—dauro King of Corinth and numbred amongst the seven wise men of Greece He seeing her attired after the manner of the Peloponnesians that was almost naked save a garment next to her skin and in that manner ministring wine to his servants and workmen he was suddenly so surprized with her beauty that he first enterteined her as his friend and familiar mistresse and shortly after in great state and publick solemnity received and acknowledged her his Queen and wife Xenophon reports of Socrates to have had familiar conference with Theodata whose speech was to this purpose Beâ—â—â—e thee O Socrates saith she I claim a just precedence and held my selfe the worthier person of the two he demanding the reason she thus proceeded Because thou with all thy gravity and austerity of discipline canst not alieâ—â—te from me and my society any one of my suitors and clients but I when I please can draw from thee the best of thy schollers and pupils both such as I like and at what time I best please To whom Socrates repli'd It is no wonder O Theodota since the way to thy house is meerly to naughtinesse and lies down the hill but the path to my school is solely tending to nobleness and vertue and is the way up hill therefore the passage sublime and difficult It is said that Apelles espying Lais when she was a young Virgin drawing water from the Pyrenaean fountain admiring her beauty which was not yet grown unto perfection he conducted her by the arm home to his shop and presented her to his fellow Painters but they deriding his folly that he would entertain a virgin one not capable of prostitution he said doubt you not for within this three years I will deliver her up to the game the most beautifullest of any Virgin living The like Xeaophon iâ— Mirabil testates That Socrates presaged of this Theodata in her childhood Quod pulcherrima esset dicebat pectusque quovis ratione haberet formosius i. He said That she would not only prove outwardly fair but her brest within every way more beautifull Demades the Orator had a son called Demeas by a she-minstrel one that plaied upon the Flate or the Shaum this young man puffing and blowing and being as our English phrase saith in a pelting chafe Hyperides then standing by Peace saith he young man and be patient for thy cheeks began to swel bigger then thy mothers Nicaeus in Successionis Philosoph saith That the Philosopher Doristhenites was the son of a strumpet called Olympia Lacena Sophocles the Tragedian had in his delights one Theorides in his age and decaying strength therefore in his praier to Venus he thus saith O nutrix juvenum exaudi mihi da mulierem Abnuere hanc c. Heare me thou nurse of youth I thee intreat And grant that she to whom my love 's so great May shun the beds of young men and despise Their hot affection only cast her eies On aged men whose heads are snow'd by time Who though decaid in strength have minds sublime Stasimus saith that this Theorides was the first friend of Theoris Sophocles after forsaking her made election of another called Archippe whom as Hegesander writes he made his heire Isocrates the modestest of all Orators was taxed with two wantons namely Metanira and Calles for so Lysias affirms in his Epistles Demosthenes in an Oration against Neaera confers Metanira upon Lysias who had another mistresse called Lagis whose Encomium was writ by the Orator Cephalus as Alcidamus Lâ—ites the scholler of Georgius most eloquently penned the praises of his beloved Nais This Nais Lysias gave description of in an Oration against Philonides her proper name was Archias of her Aristophanes makes mention in Geritade and in Pluto where he saith Amat ne Lais num tua Philonidem causa Which should be writ Nais not Lais as Athenaeus is of opinion Hermippus speaking of Isocrates saith That he enterteined into his house the Strumpet Lagisca by whom he had a daughter Lysias in an oration reckons up divers other prostitutes Philyra Scione Hyppaphesis Theoclea Psamathe Lagisca Anthaea Aristoclea and Dagnista Alce was the name of a famous Curtizan as may be gathered out of the words of Laberius Petrus Crinitus and others Pythagoras the Samian Philosopher in speaking of his transformations reporteth himselfe first to have been Euphorbus then Pyrander then Calidena and after a strumpet of admired feature called Alce with this Pythagorean Metamorphosis Laberius the Mimick Poet thus sported Vt nâ—s olim mutant Philosophi Et nunc de mulo hominem de muliebere colubrum Faciant i. As the Philosophers of old change us making of a Mule a Man and of a woman a Snake Petrus Crinitus cals her Famoso nominus Alce In the threescore and
fourth Olympiad in the time that Hippias and Hipparchus tyrannised in the City of Athens as Eusebius relates in his Annals Harmodius and Aristogiton with others but those of the most note made a conjuration against the two Princes and in this conspiracy was Hypparchus slain Leaena a famous strumpet being known to be affected to some of that faction as being endeered to them for some former curtesies was called into question and being commanded to discover the Regicides and obstinately refusing it she was adjudged to the rack where with wondrous patience enduring many almost insufferable torments and still being urged to discover what she knew concerning that confederacy she with a noble and memorable resolution bit out her tongue and cast it into the face of the tyrant Hyppias which act Pliny and others record as a president of admirable patience in a woman Let Leaena saith he the strumpet be memorized for her inconstancy who by no tortures could be inforced to discover Harmodius and Aristogiton by whose hands the tyrant Hypparchus fell For the like resolution is Anaxarchides renowned amongst men by Zeno and others Erasmus in Chiliad speaks of Sinope before named a famous strumpet of Corinth to be so extreamly given over to lust that from her came the Latine word Sinopissare which signifieth to be in the highest degree libidinous or voluptuous Suidas saith That Nannium the whore was called Capra because she devoured a Vintner or made him break called Thallus which word sometimes signifies Germen i. A bough or sprig on which Goats love to feed Acca Laurentia the wife of Faustulus the Kings shepherd who being a beautifull woman prostituted her body for gain she was sirnamed Lupa and from her even to this day all brothel-houses are called Lupanaria She nursed and brought up Romulus and Remus Liv. lib. 1. Decad. 1. Plutarch in Vita Romuli Flora the strumpet who was likewise called Laurentia constituted the people of Rome her heiâ— from her came the yearly feasts celebrated called Floralia of her Gellius lib. 6. cap. 7. and Vollat lib. 16. speaks more at large Manilia was a Roman Curâ—esan whom Hostilius Mâ—ncinus called into question because a stone was cast upon him from one of her galleries Gellius Phebe was a freed woman to Julia the daughter of Augustus Caesar and a companion with her in all her lusts and brothelries who when she beard that her mistress was confined by her father earing some severe censure from the Emperer slew her selâ— to prevent further torture Dion in Augusto The immoderate lust of Caelia Martial lib. 7. thus reproves Das Cattis das Germanis das Caelia Dacis Nec Cilicum spernis Cappadocumque toros c. To th' Catti Germans and the Dacians thou Caelia giv'st welcome and thou dost allow The Cappadians and Cilicians bed Besides from Pharo thou art furnished With Memphian whorers from the red sea sails The swarthy Indian and he brings thee vails And thou tak'st all neither wilt thou refuse The offer of the circumcised Jewes c. Catullus of his Lesbia thus speaks Nulla potest mulier tantum se dicere amatum Vere quantum à me Lesbia amata mea est No woman truly can report to be So well belov'd as Lesbia thou of me So Quintus Frabaeus Comediographus of his 〈…〉 De improviso Chrysis ubi me aspexerit Alacris obviam mihi veneit c. Wheu Chrysis on the sudden me espi'd She look'd upon me with a chearful face Wishing withall that me she might embrace To whom she owes her selfe this I have tri'd It is fortune I have seldome known And such as I prefer before mine own Dion Nicaeus and Xâ—philinus in the life of the Emperour Commodus besides the strumpet Martia whom he took to wife remembers one Damostrata whom he after bestowed upon Cleander him whom from a bondman he raised to be of his privy chamber Time Paper and Leisure would faile me before example and I desire not to be tedious I have hitherto shewed you what whores are I now desire to expresse unto you what they should be Mary Magdalen the daughter of Syrus and Eucharia and sister to Lazarus and Martha for some years gave her selfe up to all voluptuousnesse and pleasure insomuch that she had incurred the name of a common strumpet but after when she cast her selfe prostrate and washed the feet of our Saviour with her tears and dried them with the hairs of her head and annointing him with costly ointment in the house of Simon the Leper her sins were forgiven her We read likewise of Aphra who was born in Creet her mothers name was Hylaria a notorious bawd This Aphra with her three servants Dimna Eugenia and Eutropia for mony prostituted themselves to all men but she her selfe being after converted to the Faith by Narcissus Bishop of Jerusalem abjured all incontinence and adhering to the Christian Religion proved so constant in the same that for the true Faith she suffered martydome Nicaeta and Aquilina were two beautifull strumpets and made gaine of their bodies these were imploied by King Dagnes to tempt and traduce the blessed Saint Christopher and to upbraid him of false Religion but it fell out the contrary to the purpose of the tyrant for those two being by him converted to the true faith and not to be removed by meanaces or torments were after by the same King both caused to be slain Faucula Clavia is remembred by the Historiographer Livy who though she was of that wanton and loose behaviour yet highly commended for her piety she to her great charge ministred food and sustenance to many of the distressed Roman souldiers all the time that Hannibal was possessed at Capua Marullus lib. 2. cap. 12. and Sabin lib. 5. cap. 5. speak of Thais an Egyptian strumpet who by the often admonitions of the Abbot Pannutius repented her of her wicked and lewd life and to give the best satisfaction to the world that she was able she caused a great fire to be made and all that wealth which she had gathered by her prostitution she cast therein and caused it to be burned before her face and from a common Brothel-house retired her selfe to a private Monastery where after three years penitentiall solitude she expired Pelagia Antiochena so called because she was born in Antioch exceeding in wealth and excelling in beauty was wholly given over to immoderate luxuries insomuch that no woman appeared in publike more gawdily apparelled or more voluptuously minded then her selfe but being drawn by some religiously disposed friend of hers to hear the Sermons of Nonius Bishop of Heliopolis she acknowledged her error cast off her gay and gawdy attire bewailed her sins and lamented her lewd course of life distribiting her wealth amongst the poor and as a farewel to all loosenesse and intemperance builded a poor Cottage in the mount of Olives And lest any violence in such a solitude might be done unto her in the way of prevention she changed her