Emb 37. A Woman often representeth Fame I Nine present and all of Worthy Name For Virtue or for Valour all renown'd Whose Glorious Fame doth through the World resound Whereby it 's evident that Woman can Equal if not Exceed the Deeds of Man. Read and then Judge impartially their Cause No doubt my Heroines will gain Applause Female EXCELLENCY OR THE Ladies Glory Illustrated In the worthy Lives and memorable Actions of Nine Famous Women who have been renowned either for Virtue or Valour in several Ages of the world namely I. Deborah the Prophetess II. The Valiant Judith III. Queen Esther IV. The Virtuous Susanna V. The Chast Lucretia VI. Voadicia Queen of Brittain VII Mariamne wife to King Herod VIII Clotilda Queen of France IX Andegona Princess of Spain The whole adorned with Poems and the Picture of each Lady By R. B. Licensed and Entred according to Order LONDON Printed for Nath. Crouch at the Bell in the Poultrey near Cheapside 1688. TO THE READER THough Women from the injurious estimates of the World have been commonly reckoned uncapable of noble undertakings from which God and Nature have no more excluded the Feminine than the Masculine part of mankind yet it will be a little hard to pronounce that they really are so if we consider how many outward advantages men are allowed above them having their Parts improved by Education Learning and Arts and so seem by industry and Husbandry to become different from what they naturally would appear and if Women had the same helps I dare not say but they would make as good returns of which there have been many famous instances in former Ages Socrates confesses himself to have been instructed in Rhetorick by Aspatia and even in the highest points of Phylosophy by Diotime The Roman History informs us of the deep wisdom of Tanaquil Cornelia Livia and others which incouraged me having first served my own Sex by publishing the History of the Nine Worthies to try whether I could not find out as many renowned Women in History who for Virtue or Valour might seem to equal if not in some things excel the other which indeed I found no very hard task for though my Lord Montaign in his Essays writing of three Good Women saies merrily they are not to be met with by the Dozen yet I quickly discovered Nine whom I thought worthy to be proposed as admirable examples either for Goodness Courage Chastity Magnanimity yea a generous contempt of Death of which they are usually charged to have a slavish fear whereby it appears that as their Souls are of as Divine an Original and endless a Duration as Mens so their Minds are capable of as Gallant Atchievements yet I will not undertake to justifie self Homicide of which some of my Heroinies were guilty though the exigencies and extremities to which they were reduced may be some kind of Justification however I hope none will make that a President since so many worthy things may be observed in their Lives and Actions both for information and delight R. B. The History of Deborah the Prophetess AFter the death of valiant Joshua The Israelites rebell'd against Gods Law For which he gave them up unto their Foes Who fill'd their Land with miseries and woes At length they cry'd for mercy to the Lord Who doth these Penitents quick relief afford Raising renowned Deborah by whose might They Sisera and his Armies put to flight Himself being vanquisht by a Womans hand And Liberty restor'd unto their Land. Which happily they enjoy'd near forty years Serving the Lord redeem'd from all their fears AFter the death of Joshua who brought the Israelites into Canaan the people required Phineas to inform them whom God had appointed to succeed for managing their Affairs and carrying on the War against the Canaanites He answered That the Lord had commanded them to give the Government to the Tribe of Judah thereupon they desired Simeon to join with them who undertook the War upon this condition That when they had utterly rooted the remainder of the Canaanites out of their own Tribe they should imploy their conquering Armies to extinguish their Race out of all the rest Mean time the Enemy incouraged by Joshuas decease expected the Israelites with a great Host under Adonibezeck their King near the City of Bezeca with much confidence of success but these two Tribes ingaged their numerous Forces with so much valour and success that they slew ten thousand and put the rest to flight taking their King Prisoner in the Fight whose hands and feet having commanded to be cut off he acknowledged the Divine Justice therein confessing that he had used seventy two Kings in former time in the same manner The Israelites improving their Victory over-ran the Countrey and took divers Cities with small resistance in a short time At length they Besieged Jerusalem and entring the lower City put all the Inhabitants to the Sword but the higher City being very well fortified with Walls and Bulwarks together with the strength of its natural Scituation caused them not to attempt the assaulting it at present whereupon marching to Hebron they soon became Masters thereof and slew all therein At this time there were still left some of the Race of the Giants who for their Stature and Countenance were very dreadful and their Bones which were found many hundred years after discovered the vastness of their Limbs and Bulk The City of Hebron was given to the Levites out of respect to them with two thousand Cubits of Land and the rest of the Countrey was bestowed upon Caleb as Moses had commanded he being one of the Spies who was sent to discover the Land of Canaan There were likewise Lands and Possessions setled upon the Posterity of Jethro the Father-in-law of Moses and the Tribes of Judah and Simeon taking Possession of Asealon and Azoth two Cities of the Mountainous Countrey setled there and after this good success discharged themselves from the Wars As for the Benjamites to whom Jerusalem belonged they took Tribute of the Inhabitants and agreed to live in Peace with them so that now they all imploy'd themselves quietly in manuring the Countrey The rest of the Tribes did the same suffering the Canaanites to continue in peace only the Tribe of Ephraim having Besieged the City of Bethel and finding it difficult to gain it had it at length delivered into their hands by one of their own Citizens whom they therefore saved alive according to their agreement but put all the rest to the Sword After this the Israelites behaved themselves more mildly toward the Canaanites using their service in Husbanding their Lands and Fruits and thereby growing rich and at ease they grew dissolute and negligent of the commands of God and the policy and precepts of their Fore-fathers whereupon the Lord was grievous angry for their wickedness and that contrary to his express will they had spared the Canaanites declaring that those whom they had thus preserved should
she undertook this mighty Action she retired to her closet and putting ashes on her head and sackcloth on her loyns prostrated her self to the earth and prayed earnestly to God in this manner O Lord the God of my Fathers to whom nothing is impossible look down upon the Armies of Assyria who exalt themselves against thee and glory in the strength and number of their Forces and let them know that thou art the God of Battels and the Lord of Hosts is thy name and that thou breakest in pieces the mighty powers of the earth with one glance of thy eyes Throw down their strength by thy Almighty arm and lift up that hand which hath made it self renowned from all ages by so many wonders as thou hast wrought against those that have opposed thy peculiar people Confound their pride and suffer them not to violate thy Temple pollute thy Sanctuary nor destroy thy Tabernacle where thy Glorious name resteth and is called upon by thy afflicted Servants Send thy wrath upon them and deliver into my hand who am a weak widdow the Commander of their Camp give me such eloquence and utterance that my words may prevail upon him to his destruction And since thy strength is not in the multitude of Souldiers nor in the valour of Horsemen make it now appear that thou canst save by the most weak and unlikely means and that thou who art the God of the distressed the helper of the oppressed the supporter of the most destitute and the Protector and Saviour of those that are without hope art able to bring down thy most haughty and presumptuous Foes even by the hand of an impotent woman Remember thy Covenant O Lord give counsel to my heart words to my mouth and strength to my arm for the defence of thy House and People that all the Nations of the world may know there is no God like unto thee Having thus armed her self with her Prayers and Confidence in the God of Heaven she puts off her mourning and sackcloth and washes and adorns her self with Rings and Jewels to the best advantage so that she appeared exceeding amiable in the eyes of all though her virtues and graces were much the greater ornament to her and then having prepared meat and drink for her self and servant because she would not be polluted with the dainties of the Heathens she leaves her house and goes toward the gate of Bethulia where she finds Ozias and the Chiefs of the City Chabris and Charmis who seemed ravished with the lustre of her heavenly beauty yet inquired not into her design but implored the blessing of God upon her and the enterprize she had undertaken and the gates being opened she attended only by her maid went directly toward the Camp of the Assyrians all the people of the City looking after her as far as they could see As she went down the Mountain at break of day the Souldiers having discovered her ran presently to seize on so lovely a prize and were much surprized with the charms and splendor of her countenance and having inquired of her Countrey and present intentions she told them That she was a woman of Bethulia and that she had that night deserted the people of that miserable City who were obstinate to procure their own destruction from the triumphant arms of the Assyrians into whose hands they would at last certainly fall but that she would have no share in their crime hoping to escape their disasters also and that her business was to reveal to Holofernes a certain way how to take the City and all the Countrey round about without loss of a man. The Souldiers were amazed at her comeliness and discourse and assured her she had taken the only course to secure her life and honour and that their Lord would receive and entertain her with all manner of kindness and respect It may seem a rash attempt that a woman so handsom as Judith should venture her self and her honour to the rudeness of the dissolute Souldiers who propound to themselves the ravishing of women for one part of the reward of their dangers and toils in war And we may be apt to think that an honest woman would scarce expose her chastity to so many hazards and affronts although it were to save a City In humane reason this conduct of hers can hardly be defended but who dares condemn what seems to proceed from a manifest inspiration of Heaven which kept her as safe in the midst of the greatest seeming difficulties as if immured in the strongest Castle She was then conducted to the Tent of Holofernes who was leaning upon his Bed under a rich Canopy of State imbroidered with Gold Purple Emeralds and Jewels who having notice of her approach came to the door of his Tent with Silver Lamps before him Judith being come into his presence struck him and all his Attendants into admiration at her furprizing handsomness and being fallen at his feet he caused her to be instantly raised up and to incourage her treats her with incomparable sweetness assuring her That he was not terrible to any who would submit themselves to the obedience of his great Master Nebuchadnezzar the King of all the Earth neither would he have permitted a Sword to have been drawn against her Nation if according to their duty they had rendred their Towns to the arms of that Mighty Monarch and therefore desired her to inform him upon what account she had forsaken the City and was come to his Camp. Judith endeavoured to gratifie his request by this subtle Oration My Lord I am very well satisfied that the Great Nebuchadnezzar is ordained of God to be the King of the whole world and that all the strength of his Monarchy and management of his warlike affairs is included in your Person and conducted by your wisdom and policy for the safety and protection of the good and the chastisement of evil doers The valour and prudence of the worthy Holofernes is renowned through all the Earth who desires to be powerful only that he may be merciful of which all the Provinces which have fallen under his conquering arm have had comfortable experience As for the words which Achior declared to my Lord he hath repeated the same in the ears of the people of Bethulia thereby endeavouring to incourage them to defend themselves valiantly and what he hath said is most true and certain that the Israelites shall not be punished neither can the Sword prevail against them except they sin against their God But now their sin will overtake them and thereby make them an easy prey to their enemies for since their victuals and water fail them they are resolved to kill all their Cattel and to eat all things even those forbidden by their Law and not to spare those which were sanctified and reserved for the use of the Priests and service of the Temple whereby they will provoke their God to anger For this cause my Lord have
whose mercy and goodness endures forever The people were even transported with joy at this unexpected deliverance and seeing the dismal head only by torch-light were almost perswaded it was but a dream But that the multitude which saw the same thing confirmed them their eyes were not deluded They therefore shouted with praises to the God of Heaven the only worker of Miracles and then turning to Judith they gave her a thousand thanks and blessings for being the instrument of so marvellous a salvation that day Then Ozias the Prince of the people of Israel in Bethulia spake thus to her Blessed be you O Daughter and most excellent above all the women in the Earth and praised be the great Creator of Heaven and Earth who hath assisted your Victorious arm for the destruction of the principal of our Enemies whereby you have rendred your name immortal to all ages to come and shall be had in admiration by all that have any sense of the wonderful works of God while the world endures since none can forget how little you valued your own life and honour so that you might thereby free your Nation from the inevitable ruin which seemed to hang over their heads After this Achior was called to whom shewing the head of Holofernes and assuring him that what he had affirmed of the might power of the God of Israel was now fully verified since he that had vowed their total desolation was now no more and their great Commander Holofernes was himself without a head Achior was even astonisht at her words and action and with the surprize fell down into a swound but at length recovering he threw himself at her feet with so much reverence as was near to adoration and by her means was more confirmed in the true Religion and he with all the people shouted and gave glory to God with a loud voice Judith to perfect her Conquest advised the people to place the head upon one of the highest Towers of the City and in the morning to make a salley out upon the Assyrians who at the alarum would presently run to the Tent of Holofernes to awake him and finding what had happened would be extreamly amazed and sell their lives at a cheap rate and might be pursued and utterly destroyed out of all their Coasts with very little damage to themselves This was put in execution and the Captains instantly repaired to the Generals Tent to receive orders desiring Bagoas the Eunuch to wake their Lord since the Israelitish slaves had presumed to make a sally upon them tho to their own destruction The Eunuch after long tarrying at last ventred in and coming near the bed and hearing no body stir he at length opened the curtains thinking he had still slept with Judith but instead thereof found the dead body cast on the floor and his head taken from him At this fight he cryed out aloud and became so furious that he rent his cloths and went in a rage to Judiths apartment threatning her with a thousand deaths but missing her there he sent out many frightful Schreeches among the People and declared aloud That the Slaves had dealt treacherously with them and that one Hebrew woman had brought shame and confusion upon the House of Nebuchadnezzar who had slain Holofernes and left his carcase without a head All ran to behold this dismal Spectacle and the whole camp was filled with horror astonishment and despair Tears and howling had taken possession of the whole Army when at the same time the head of Holofernes appeared upon one of the Towers of Bethulia which so astonished the Assyrians that they fled and scattered themselves round about the City every one seeking safety in running away and none durst trust another The Israelites pursued with all manner of briskness and vigor making a great noise that their number might appear considerable though there needed no great force to vanquish run-a-ways All the neighbouring Cities came in to take part of the spoil and to pillage their routed enemies whom they cut off with a most dreadful slaughter and the booty in the Camp was so prodigious that the people were thirty days in dividing it The rich moveables of Gold Silver Pearls and Jewels found in Holofernes Tent were all presented to Judith with the praises and acclamations of the multitude who unanimously applauded her as the glory of Jerusalem the joy of Israel the honour of her people the gallant woman the chast and valiant Princess by whose hand God had done great things in delivering his people and whose fame should live to eternal Ages The women of Israel likewise assembled themselves to meet and bless her dancing before her with branches of Olive in their hands whereof they composed a Garland which they put upon her head and then Judith leading the dance before them proceeded toward her own house all the men of Israel following in their armour with garlands on their heads and songs in their mouths Judith likewith made the following song of Praise and Thanksgiving which all the people sang after her SIng to the Lord my God sing praise A new Psalm to him sing Exalt his glorious name always He is our God and King. The Armies he to pieces breaks Of those that are his Foes He me delivered from their hands Who did me round inclose Assur with thousands from the North Came Israel to assail And by his multitudes did not doubt Against them to prevail He boasted he our Towns would burn And our young men destroy Women and Virgins ravish and Our Infants make a prey But they have disappointed been By the Almighty Lord. A womans hand did them withstand They fled with one accord Their Great Commander did not fall By any Giants power 'T was Judiths beauty him inthrall'd And brought his fatal hour For her oppressed people she Her mourning laid aside And to surprize his amorous eyes Her Person beautified Her Charms over his Soul prevail'd And ravished his sight He 's made a Prisoner to her face She is his Hearts delight The Sword quite through his neck did pass And parted it asunder The Persians at her boldness quake The Medes thereat did wonder Th' Afflicted then did shout for joy Thy weak Ones cry'd aloud The Foes astonisht were ' cause God Had overthrown the proud The Young men have them pierced through And wounded them in Fight The Fugitives fiercely they pursue And slay their men of Might I unto God new Songs will sing O Lord thou art most Glorious In power thou art Wonderful Invincible Victorious Let all the Creatures worship thee At whose word made were they At thy voice they created were None thee can disobey The Fountains shall be mov'd at thee The Rocks shall melted be Yet merciful thou art to those That serve and worship thee All Sacrifice and Offerings Unto thee are but small But those that fear the Lord their God To Honour he will call Wo to the Nations that advance Themselves
to appease them when Imbert their Chief suddenly let fly an arrow at him which Corineus soon returned with such force that it clave his head in sunder whereat the rest of the Poictovins fled and brought the news to Goffarius who instantly raised a mighty Army wherewith he marched to encounter the Trojans between whom a sharp battel was fought but in the end Brute by the admirable courage of Corineus obtained the Victory and Goffarius fled further up into Gallia or France endeavouring to incite all his Neighbour Princes to join with him in this common danger Brute mean time marcht forward destroying all before him with Fire and Sword and having got great booty carried it to his Ships Goffarius and his Confederates with mighty forces resolving to revenge these injuries came suddenly upon the Trojans being thirty times as many and assaulted them often in their Camp with so much fury and such inequality of numbers that they besieged them therein hoping by famine to compel them to yield to mercy In this extremity Corineus and Brute resolved to use some stratagem for their deliverance and the next night Corineus drawing three thousand choice men out of the Camp into a wood that lay on the back of the enemy in the morning Brute fell upon them furiously in the front when at the same time Corineus assaulting them couragiously on the Reer they were so surprized and confounded that they instantly fled whom the Trojans eagerly pursued with great slaughter Brute lost many of his men in this battel and among others his Nephew Turnus from whom it is said the City of Tours in France which Brute built took its name and was called Turonium Turnus being there buried though Brute had cause to rejoice in this victory yet finding his forces decay every day and his enemies increase it was resolved they should bring the riches they had got to their Ships and all imbark once again to find out the Island the Oracle had promised After a few daies sailing they arrived at an haven now called Totnes in Devonshire in the year from the Creation of the World 2850. After the destruction of Troy 66. From the deliverance of the Israelites out of Babylon 397. in the eighteenth year of the reign of Tyneas King of Babylon and the thirteenth of Melanthus King of Athens Before the building of Rome 368. And before the Nativity of our Saviour 1116. For as the Poet sings of Brute The Gods did guide his sail and course The winds were at command And Totnes was the happy shoar Where first he came to land Brute having entred the Countrey he immediately went in search of it from one end to the other and found it to abound in Woods Grass pleasant Springs and fair Rivers though in the way he was encountred by divers strong and mighty Giants whom he at length subdued and brought the Land wholly into subjection Among others there was one Giant of extraordinary strength and reputation called Gogmagog with whom Brute obliged Corineus to wrestle at a place neer Dover where it happened that Gogmagog broke one of the ribs of Corineus with a fall who being therewith enraged recovered himself and redoubling his courage he prevailed against the Giant and cast him down headlong from one of the Rocks now called Dover Clifts but for many ages after retained the name of Gogmagogs leap and if Tradition is to be relied on in this case it may somewhat confirm the truth of the foregoing History since the two Figures placed in Guild-hall London are by some believed to represent these two Giants Gogmagog and Corineus For this and many other valiant Atchievements Brute bestowed upon Corineus the whole Countrey of Cornwall whose Inhabitants are still famous for wrestling occasioned it may be from this their first governor I. Brute having conquered all that opposed him in the whole Island resolved to build a City which might be the Royal Seat of his kingdom to which purpose he chose a plat of ground on the Northside of the Thames convenient for pleasantness clearness of air goodness of soil plenty of woods and especially accommodated with a Noble River for bringing in Merchandise and all other necessaries proper for a multitude of inhabitants He began to lay the foundation thereof in the tenth year of his reign which he called Troynovant or New Troy in remembrance of that famous City from whence he and his people were descended but now named London which having finished he by the advice of his Nobility commanded the Isle of Albion to be called Brittain and the people Brittains as a perpetual memorial that he was the first who brought them hither He had by his wife three sons Locrinus Camber Albanack to the elder at his death he gave that part now called England which was long called Loegria from his name To the second Wales named from him Cambria and to the third all the North part of the Isle beyond the River Humber which he called Albany now Scotland Having thus divided the Land Brute died in the twenty fourth year after his arrival and was buried at Troynovant or London but in what place is now unknown II. Locrinus his eldest Son succeeded in Loegria and his brother Albanack in Albania but Humber King of the Hunns or Scythians invading his Countrey slew him in battel and took possession of his Land till Locrinus with his brother Camber King of Wales joining their Forces to revenge their brothers death fell upon him with such valour that they put his Army to flight and pursued him so eagerly that he with abundance of his people were drowned in the River which divided Loegria from Albania and from that K. hath ever since retained the name of the River of Humber among many others three Virgins of excellent beauty were taken Prisoners with one of whom called Estrild a Scythian Kings daughter Locrinus fell so in love that notwithstanding a former contract between him and Guendolen daughter of Corineus King of Cornwall he resolved to marry her but by the perswasions and threats of her Father durst not do it in his life time and though he married Guendolen he kept Estrild as his Concubine and after Corineus death forsook Guendolen and married her Who being thus cast off by her husband went to her kindred in Cornwall whom she provoked to make War upon Locrine her husband wherein he was slain neer the water of Stour after he had reigned twenty years and was buried by his Father at Troynovant III. Madan his Son by Guendolen succeeded him but being under age his Mother was by common consent of the Brittans made Ruler of the kingdom wherein she administred justice and equity fifteen years till her Son came to manhood to whom she then resigned the government of whom little is recorded but that he used much Tyranny over his Subjects forty years after which as he was one day going on hunting he lost his company and was devoured of Wild Beasts
when they were gone the King repented of what he had done and resolved to pursue and utterly destroy them but God dried up the Red Sea before them so that they passed safely through and the Egyptians were all drowned therein From hence their God led them to Mount Sinai and through the barren desarts of Arabia and miraculously nourished them there with food from Heaven and waters out of the Rock and caused them to be victorious over all the people of the Countreys through which they passed Thus as long as they served their God they were invincible over all their enemies devouring the Amorites Jebusites Perezites and other Nations as fire consumes the chaff and possessing their Lands and Estates But when they departed from Gods worship and defiled themselves with iniquity they were then forsaken of Heaven defeated in many battles and led captive into the land of their adversaries the Temple of their God being cast down and their Cities taken from them But they are now again returned to their former worship and their Countrey and Temple at Jerusalem where they fortifie themselves against us Let us therefore my Lord be advised before we proceed against them for if their God be angry with them by reason of any provocation it will be easy for us to subdue and destroy them but if he be reconciled and will defend them it will be in vain to attempt any thing since he will certainly ruin and defeat all that shall assault them be their strength and multitude never so great Achior having thus spoken the Commanders of the Army were extreamly incensed against him and desired he might be slain who had the confidence to imagine that so small a number of people as the Israelites were should be able to withstand the force of the Royal Army of Nebuchadnezzar whom they doubted not but to discomfit at their very first appearance Holofernes having quieted the tumult raised among his Souldiers by this Oration spake thus to him and his Associates Who art thou Achior and who are you Hirelings of Ephraim that you have prophesied we should not make War with the people of Israel because their God will defend them as if there were any other God but Nebuchadnezzar whose Servants will utterly destroy them the Mountains shall be drunk with their bloud and their Fields covered with their dead bodies And thou Achior shalt see my face no more till I take vengeance of these people that came out of Egypt and in the mean time I will deliver thee into their hands Accordingly some Souldiers were sent to carry Achior bound and throw him down the Hill near the walls of the City which the Israelites perceiving came and brought him into Bethulia and being carried before the Priests and Governors of the City who inquired the meaning of this adventure he gave them an account of all he had said to Holofernes and what Testimony he had given of the Power and Majesty of God whereat the people were even ravished for joy and fell down crying to the Lord of Heaven to behold the pride of their enemies and pity the low estate of his servants And then comforted Achior and promised him all security and protection Mean time Holofernes endeavoured to surprize little Bethulia but found it hard to be effected by reason of some valiant men who lay in ambush in the Mountains and much gauled his Army in the narrow passages whereupon his Souldiers perswaded him not to hazard his whole Army in this dangerous attempt but endeavour to stop the channels that carried the water from the Fountains which would quickly oblige them to yield This was performed accordingly and was very like to have effected their design for the people began to murmur and mutiny aloud against the Priests for bringing them into this dangerous condition by their rashness since there was little hope of prevailing against such a formidable power as had already subdued so many Nations and with one voice required them to surrender up the Town to the Assyrians Ozias in the absence of Joachim endeavoured to appease the cries and tears of the people and desired them to take courage and trust in God and if deliverance did not come in five days he would then do as they pleased There was then in the City of Bethulia a great Treasure whose worth and merit was utterly unknown It was the valiant Judith of a worthy Family of the Tribe of Reuben whose husband was named Manasseh and had been dead about three years and an half leaving her very rich She was exceeding beautiful and very religious spending all her time in devotion and wearing sackcloth upon her loyns whereby she gained much reputation among the people This worthy Lady hearing of the resolutions of Ozias was much disturbed at the miseries of her Countrey and sending for Ozias and the rest of the Princes of the people she thus addrest them O ye Governors and Inhabitants of Bethulia in my opinion you have been very rash in what you have spoken this day to the people and in the Oath you have taken and pronounced between the Lord and them in promising to deliver up the City to the enemy if God do not send you help within five days which is to tempt and prescribe to him the time of his mercies and not to depend upon his providence who knows best when and how to bring Salvation to those that put their trust in him Let us therefore continue to serve the Lord according to his Laws and Commandments and not turn aside to worship other Gods as our Fathers did before us and for which they were given up to the Sword of their Adversaries and in Gods good time which is the best he will work out deliverance for us Ozias replyed All that she had said was true and excellent and that it was not the first time wherein she had manifested her wisedom and knowledge for which she was always held in admiration but that the extream thirst of the people and the violent exclamations they raised had caused them to enter into an Oath which they durst not break But said he since we know thee to be a religious woman and upright in thy conversation we beseech thee to pray to God for us that he will please to send us rain and fill our Cisterns and then we shall take courage to defend our selves Hereupon Judith told them That she would perform an Act which should resound through all generations defiring them to leave one of the City Gates open through which she might freely pass that very night accompanied with her Servant since she had some good work in her heart for the benefit of her Countrey which she would not yet discover but assured them that God would save them by her hand within the time limited for giving up the City Ozias and the Princes bid her go in peace and pray'd the Lord God to be with her and to take vengeance of their enemies Before
I left that abominable City and am come as a Messenger from Heaven to give you this advice and to perform such an act that all the earth shall be astonished therewith for thy Servant is religious and worshippeth the God of Heaven every day and night and I will pray unto him to discover his will to me and to shew me when they have committed these sins against him that so I may inform you of the utmost time which is determined for this miserable Town and then you may march even to the very gates of Jerusalem and settle your Throne there since the people will deliver themselves up to you as sheep without a shepherd and a dog shall not open his mouth against you it being very reasonable that men and beasts should submit themselves to such a formidable power as is conducted by the hand of the most High and by the direction of his providence Holofernes who was before taken by the eyes was now charmed by the ears with the pleasantness of her discourse and admired her above all women in the world both for her beauty and wisdom promising that her God should be his God and that he will advance her to great dignities in the house of Nebuchadnezzar and make her renowned through all the earth And at the same time brings her into the Chambers of his Treasure and Magnificence and ordered her provisions both of meat and wine dayly from his own Table which she excused since her Law did not permit her to eat of any other Viands but her own which she had provided and brought along with her But what says Holofernes if your own store should be spent how shall we supply you Judith replies That she did not doubt but to accomplish the business she came about before that time After this she was conducted into a stately Tent where she reposed till midnight and toward the morning watch she sent to Holofernes that he would please to permit her to go out before day to address her prayers to God which he readily granted commanding his Guards to let her pass freely She went therefore in the silence of the night into the valley of Bethulia where she washed her self in a Fountain of water and then prayed earnestly to God that he would prosper her design for freeing her Countrey and again raise up their drooping spirits Having continued in the Camp three days watching an opportunity to execute her intended project behold a fit season was presented by Holofernes himself who would needs make a sumptuous banquet for his servants and familiars only to which he resolved to invite Judith as the chief Guest hoping that when she was merry he might obtain his desire of her since the Assyrians account it a great dishonour to a man to court a woman and not enjoy her And therefore he ordered one of his Eunuchs to wait upon her and impart his Masters pleasure to her and how far she was in his favour since he desired that very day to have her company at the magnificent Feast he had prepared which was the greatest honour she could ever receive and therefore ought to make no scruple of obeying but to be pleasant and free with him who had laid so great an obligation upon her Judith soon understood what his discourse tended to and readily answered That she was wholly disposed to perform his Lords commands and would have no other will but his And instantly adorns her self in the best manner to wound his heart with her graces and charms and passing into his Pavilion seats her self nigh unto him where she eats what she had provided and tells him she will now drink chearfully since she had cause to count this the most happy day of her whole life When Holofernes saw her so near him and alone his heart was wholly ravished with her beauty he thought himself the most fortunate man upon earth His passion did not permit him to speak much he was so extreamly moved He contented himself only with inviting her to be merry and drank large draughts to make himself so And Judith expressing her great content to see him in so good an humour he to please her as he thought drank so much more than ordinary that he was even dead with drunkenness and the fumes of the strong wine The Eunuch having the word to do his Office dismisses all the servants and Attendants and shuts the door upon his Master and Judith Holofernes lay sleeping upon his bed full of wine but Judith was never more wakeful she contemplates the gallant General lying in his drunken sleep and earnestly called upon God to prosper her bold undertaking for the exaltation of Israel and going to the pillars of the bed she takes down thence the sword of Holofernes and undauntedly drawing it she takes hold of the hair of his head and saying Strengthen my arm O Lord God of Israel this day she smote him twice upon the neck with all her force and with the last blow struck off his head throwing his body on the ground then pulling down the Canopy from the Pillars and giving it her Maid with the head she put it into her bag among the meat and both of them pass through the Army without being questioned the Officers having order to let them go as usually to prayers Having passed the Camp they went up the Mourtain of Bethulia and arriving at the City gates before morning she cryed to the Centinel afar off to open the gates with all speed since God had done worders for Israel and had appeared in a strange manner for their deliverance from their enemies The people hearing her voice soon let her in and ran to give notice to Ozias and the Rulers all the inhabitants both great and small coming together to hear what tidings she had brought whom they looked upon as a lost woman and like one come from the other world and having made a great fire to give light to the Assembly they stood round about her who spake thus in the midst of them with a loud voice Praise God praise ye the Lord I say who never forsakes his own but hath by me this day accomplished his promise to his chosen people and hath by me and by my hands slain the common enemy of our Nation this very night She then drew out of the bag the horrible head of Holofernes all pale and bloudy which she shewed to them all adding Behold the head of the Capt. Gen. of the Armies of Assur and then spreading abroad his Pavilion Behold said she the Canopy wherein he reposed himself in his drunkenness and where the Lord smote him by the hand of a woman It is the living God alone that hath preserved me from all danger in this most perillous attempt and though my countenance hath been his ruin yet I take that God whose Angel hath been my guard to witness he hath not offered me the least shame nor reproach To God be all the glory
his reign in the twelfth month called Adar or February And edicts were sent throughout all his kingdoms to proclaim a Feast in honour of this wedding he himself likewise feasting the Medes Persians and Princes of other Nations for a whole month upon that account When Esher entered the Royal Palace the king set a Diadem of gold upon her head and lived with her with all manner of content and satisfaction never questioning her birth nor of what Nation she was Her uncle Mordecai came with her from Babylon where she was found by the Kings officers to Shusan the cheif City of Persia and walked dayly before the Palace inquiring of her welfare whom he loved as tenderly as if she had been his own Now the king had published a Law that no man should approach his presence unless 〈◊〉 sent for In pursuance whereof while he sate on his Royal Throne certain Officers stood with their Axes ready to punish any that should attempt to infringe this Decree The king himself sate aloft holding a golden Scepter in his hand and when any presumed to come near without being called if the King would save his life he touched him therewith who thereby avoided death It happened about this time that Bigthan and Teresh two of the kings chamberlains had conspired against their Master which Mordecai who was not of a drowsy Spirit soon perceived and narrowly observing their carriage he discovered the whole design which he imparted to Queen Esther and she to the King in the name of Mordecai who being taken and examined confessed their abominable Treason and received their due reward the king at present only returned Mordecai hearty thanks for saving his life but commanded him to continue in his Pallace and ordered his name to be registred in the Chronicles of Persia with the whole process against the Malefactors After this Ahasuerus exalted Haman an Amalekite above all his Princes and Nobles and he became the chief Favourite so that the king saw but with his eyes and heard with his ears All the Court adored this new Idol and all knees were bowed before him but Mordecai shewed him no reverence nor respect both because he knew the wickedness of his nature and that the Laws of the Jews forbad him to give honour to any of the wicked race of Amalek Haman elevated even to giddiness by the greatness he so suddenly arrived to had at first little regard to it but being dayly advertised thereof by his Flatterers who informed him that they had often in vain reproved Mordecai for his contempt he was thereat inflamed with rage against him and understanding he was a Jew was much disturbed that all the Persian Nobility who were free should prostrate themselves before him and a Jewish slave should refuse to reverence him he therefore scorns to revenge himself on Mordecai alone as thinking it much below his grandeur to punish one man only but resolves utterly to exterminate the whole race of the Jews to whom he was a mortal enemy by nature the Amalekites his predecessors having been destroyed by the Israelites in former ages and revenge may be imagined thus to inflame him Remember Haman there 's no sweeter pleasure Than swift revenge for to revenge by leasure Is but like feeding when the Stomach 's past Not pleasing th' eager appetite nor tast 'T is not for th' honour of thy personage Nor stands it with thy greatness to ingage Thy noble thoughts to make revenge so poor To be reveng'd on One alone thy sore Needs many Plaisters make thy honour good Not with a drop but with a world of bloud Borrow the sythe of Time and let thy passion Mow down and ruin the whole Jewish Nation In pursuance of this hellish resolution Haman addresseth himself to the King and tells him That there were a certain cursed people called Jews dispersed through all the Provinces of his kingdom who were divided by Religion and laws from the rest of the World and by affection from his Person and government That they were pernicious to his Empire and upon all occasions ready and disposed to insurrections and rebellions and that for preventing the mischiefs which might happen by them nothing would be more secure than to cut them off all at once and utterly to extinguish their race so that neither Captive nor Slave should be left alive among them And lest their destruction should prove prejudicial to his Majesties Revenue he freely offered to pay out of his own Estate forty thousand Talents of Silver into the Exchequer being willing rather to part with so much money for the publick safety than that such a cursed generation of men should indanger the kingdom Thus is the horrid Scene laid for the ruin of so many millions of people by the pernicious counsel of one malicious and ambitious favourite The king is soon led away by this evil advice and trusts this proud Haman with the execution thereof as if he had committed the sheep to the protection of the Wolf He triumphs with joy for having obtained his desire and the kings Ring He calls the Secretaries and commands them in the name of Ahasuerus to write bloudy Letters to all the Provinces That the thirteenth day of the last month which was February the Jews should be massacred in all the Cities and Towns within the utmost limits of the Empire and that from the least to the greatest not sparing man woman nor child all should be put to the sword without remorse their goods to be confiscate exposed to pillage These Letters confirmed with the Kings seal flew like lightning through the hundred and twenty seven provinces of the Persian Monarchy The evil was universal and the terror began at the Capital City of Shushan where the Edict hanged upon Pillars was seen and read to all the world containing this dreadful Sentence Ahasuerus Rex Let every Province in the Persian Land Upon the day prefixt prepare his hand To make the Channels flow with Rebels bloud And from the earth to root the Jewish brood Let not the softness of a partial heart Through melting pity Love or false desert Spare either young or old or man or woman But like their crimes so let their plagues be common Decreed and signed by our Princely Grace And given at Shushan from our royal place This sanguinary Proclamation being published in all places many bloudy Miscreants rejoiced at the news and prepared themselves to execute the contents thereof resolving at the day appointed utterly to destroy the Jews and to leave no remembrance of them upon earth The Metropolitan City of Shushan abounded with these Instruments of cruelty though in the mean time the K. and Haman feasted drowned themselves in debauchery Poor Mordecai foreseeing the Tempest ready to fall upon his people cloathed himself with Sackcloth and put ashes upon his head in which equipage he walked through the City protesting that his Nation had done nothing to deserve this severity designed
imployed as his youngest Son Sextus afterward the villanous ravisher of Lucretia to whom he thus discourst We have in vain O Sextus assaulted the Gabins by power nothing now remains but craft which is the second step to Greatness Go then my Son to the Gabins seem as if you fled from me accuse me of cruelty strive to insinuate your self into their confidence behave your self as one of their confederates and companions and as you succeed you shall receive from me further instructions Sextus Tarquinius the wicked Son of a Tyrannical Father was ready prepared to execute his commands though never so impious and Tarquin found that these perfidious lessons were given to a Son who was expert in villany He obeys flies to the Gabins to whom he made a grievous complaint of his Fathers intolerable cruelty in words to this effect Lo here a Son O Gabins escaped from his Fathers Sword to shield himself under the protection of his enemies He brought me up and then designed me as a sacrifice and oblation to his cruelty if fathers thus turn unnatural enemies I hope to find my enemies a father to me in my misfortunes He hath now turned his pride and severity from strangers to his own family and would willingly cause the same desolation and solitude in his own house that he has made in the Senate He is even weary of his Children and knows not how to be a Father either of them or his Countrey All his thirst is after bloud he covets rule and dominion that he may kill and destroy He desires the command of Cities only that he may dispeople them and would utterly exterminate the whole Senate because it resembles a principality He sees he has sons and fearing they are like himself he dreads them because he dreads himself The consciousness of his own misdeeds pursues him and he is affrighted with his own imaginations which represent only dreadful things to his apprehension and thinking to secure himself from them he commits fresh murthers and the more he imbrues his hands in bloud that he may be thereby freed from the fear of others he fears himself the more 'T is safer to be Tarquins enemy than his son that being the only way to escape his private and malicious assassinations Startle not O ye Gabins at my being begot by Tarquin Children do not always resemble their Fathers if so there would be no variety in nature and you shall find that I even I will revenge so many wrongs and villanies for notwithstanding his pretence of laying aside the War yet he is preparing to surprize and ruin you with the first advantage I have escaped my Fathers Swords and Darts and think my self no where safe but among his adversaries and if my unfortunate condition can find no relief from you I will wander over all Latium yea over all the Nations in the world till I find out those who will protect innocent Children from the cruel and unjust prosecutions of unnatural and bloudy Fathers and whom I may persuade to ingage against that proud King and his barbarous Followers After this florid Oration he seemed indifferent whether they would entertain him or not pretending to go instantly to some other place which made the Gabins more ready to receive him as they did with very great civility telling him That it was no wonder Tarquin proved so unnatural to his children since he had been so treacherous to his own Countreymen Allies that they did believe he would at last offer violence to himself if he wanted a subject to excercise his brutish rage upon That Sextus his coming to them was very grateful and they hoped by his assistance to carry the War in a short time from their own City to the very Walls of Rome After this he was admitted into their publick Councils wherein he exprest a singular modesty in referring all things to the Judgment of the most ancient Counsellers only he much approved of the continuance of the War wherein he said he pretended to the greatest knowledge as being sensible of the strength of both people and that the pride of Tarquin must needs be very hateful to his subjects since his own Children were not able to endure it By such discourses as these he provoked them to continue the War and went with the most active Youth to forrage the Countrey where in several small Skirmishes he came off with so good success that he thereby gained such reputation as to be made General of their Army in which office he still got more credit for in all the bickerings between the Romans and Gabins he generally had the better so that the whole people thought him sent to them as a blessing from Heaven For his despising of dangers and activity in every place of difficulty but especially his freeness in distributing all the booty gained him so much love and ingaged the hearts of the people to him that his authority among the Gabins was no less powerful than his Father Tarquins among the Romans Having proceeded thus far in his traiterous design and judging himself strong enough to carry on his purpose he sends a Messenger to his Father to signifie what he had done and to receive further directions since Heaven had so ordered it that he could act what he pleased among the Gabins The Messenger being not thought faithful enough Tarquin sent no positive answer by him but taking him into the garden as if to consult what message to return the King walkt silently along and with his staff cut off the heads of the highest Poppies The Messenger weary of expecting an answer withdrew and hastned back to Sextus telling him That whether out of anger hatred or natural pride he had not sent him a word in return but only as he walkt in the garden he with a stick struck off the heads of the highest Poppies Sextus quickly apprehends these dumb signs and thereby understands his wicked Fathers mind and soon after causes the Chief men of the City to be put to death by accusing some to the people and stirring up others out of envy to ruin their fellow Citizens many were executed publickly and divers against whom he could prove nothing murthered privately Some fled their Countrey others were banished and all their Estates as well as those put to death distributed among the people who for the sweetness of the booty and the particular profit they received lost the sense of their publick misfortunes and were laid asleep from whence they never awaked till they were deprived both of counsel and power and the Gabine Liberty was at an end The City being at length surrendred by this Subtle Stratagem to the King of Rome without the least bloudshed or resistance After this Tarquin makes peace with the rest of his Neighbours and then applies his mind to City affairs resolving to finish the Temple of Jupiter he had begun which being with the help of many hands in a short time finished he next
in the Woods leaving two Sons Mempricius and Manlius He is said to have built Madan Castle now Doncaster IV. Mempricius at the beginning of his reign had much trouble from his brother Manlius who out of an ambitious mind of ruling provoked the Brittains to rebellion and the war was long and bloudy But Manlius under pretence of treating being slain he reigned more peaceably which yet produced as bad an effect for being quiet he ran into all manner of debauchery ravishing the Wives and daughters of his Subjects and at length grew so unnatural in his lust that he forsook his wives and Concubines and fell into the abominable sin of Sodomy Whereby he became odious to God and man and met with the fate of his Father being slain by Wolves in the forrests after twenty years reign V. Ebrank his Son by his lawful wife was his Successor he had as is said twenty one wives on whom he begot twenty sons and thirty daughters He built many Cities in his own kingdom and elsewhere He sent his daughters into Italy to be married to some noble Trojans whom his sons conducted thither and in their return conquered part of Germany that impeded their passage and planted themselves there Ebrank built Caerbrank now York and Maidens Castle in Scotland now Edenburgh After which he invaded Gallia now France and subduing the Galles returned home with great riches and having reigned forty years died and was buried at York VI. Brute Greenshield his Son was King after him in the year of the world 2009. Asa being then King of Judah and Baasha of Israel He always wore a Green Shield from whence he took his Sirname and prosecuted his Fathers Conquests in France which he wholly subdued and then dying VII Leil his Son built the City of Carleil after his own name and repaired Caerleon now Chester which was built before Brutes coming by a famous Giant named Leon Gaur In the beginning of his reign he was very good and virtuous but afterward degenerated into all kind of voluptuousness whereby he caused great divisions and disturbances among his Subjects which continued during his life He was buried at Carlisle and left the Government to his Son. VIII Lud or Hudibras who appeased the dissentions raised in his Fathers reign and reduced the Realm to quietness he built Kaerkin now Canterbury Câ—â—rguent now Winchester and Mount Palondour now Shaftsbury In his reign Aquila a learned man writ his Prophecies of which some fragments now remain in Latin. Having reigned thirty nine years he left his kingdom to his Son. IX Bladud who was famous for Astronomy and Necromancy by which means he is reported to have made those hot Baths in the City of Caerbran now called Bath and was so addicted to the study of Magick and other strange practices that he taught them to his people and to magnify his Skill therein undertook to fly in the air but his Skill failing he fell upon the Temple of Apollo in Troynovant now London and was dasht to peices after he had reigned twenty years X. Lear his Son undertook the Government after him a Prince of a gallant temper and ruled with much justice He built the Town of Caerlier now Leicester upon the River Sore It is related he had three daughters named Gonerilla Regan and Cordilla whom he loved very tenderly especially the youngest and growing aged without an Heir he resolved to try the affection of his daughters and to leave the Kingdom to her who should express most fatherly kindness to him He therefore demanded of the first how much she loved him who with great earnestness called Heaven to witness That she loved him above her own life was very ready to lose it for preserving his With which reply he was well satisfied and askt the same question of the second who with mighty attestations assured him That her affection was beyond expression and that she valued him above all things in the World Lastly he required Cordilla the youngest to declare what kindness she had for him who replied Knowing the extream love and parental indulgence you have always born to me I do solemnly and from my conscience protest I ever did and ever shall love you as a natural Father and no otherwise Lear was much discontented at her answer and therefore soon after married his two eldest daughters one to the Duke of Cornwall and the other to the Duke of Albany and ordained that after his death the Kingdom should be divided between them but reserved nothing for Cordilla Yet it happened that Aganippus King of Gallia now France hearing of her beauty wisdom and virtue sent to her Father to desire her in marriage who answered He might marry if he pleased without a Dowry since all his land was already disposed to her elder sisters Aganippus notwithstanding for her excellent qualities made her his Queen He was one of the twelve Kings that then ruled in Gallia Lear was now very aged and the two Dukes thinking it very long before they enjoyed the Kingdom taking arms deprived him of the Government only allowing him a certain revenue during life but after a while they grew weary and much diminished his allowance yea his two daughters who made such zealous profession of love now thought much of what their Father enjoyed so that he went from the eldest to the second to whom he represented the unnaturalness of her sister who used him as ill as the other and at last reduced him to so mean a condition that he had not one servant to wait on him At length wearied with their affronts and abuses he fled secretly into France to seek relief of his youngest daughter Cordilla having notice of the arrival of her Father in so mean and wretched a state she sent him privately some money to provide necessaries and to retain a number of servants that he might appear at Court honourably attended according to his former dignity whither being come he was received with all manner of respect and honour by the King and his daughter wherewith he was exceedingly comforted and gave them an account of the bad treatment he had received from his other daughters upon which Aganippus raised a great Army and conveyed them over into Brittain in a gallant navy of Ships together with King Lear for recovering his Kingdom who had made an agreement that Cordilla should succeed after his decease since her sisters by their disobedience had forfeited their former right In short time they landed in Brittain Cordilla being with them and meeting with the two Dukes they ingaged in battel and put them to flight the Dukes being both slain and Lear thereupon restored to his Kingdom who reigned two years after and then died after he had ruled in all forty years and was buried in a vault under the Chanel of the River Soar near Leicester XI Cordilla being admitted Queen of the Realm reigned very happily five years at the end of which her two Nephews
Helie there passed about one hundred and eighty years and some ancient Authors have reckoned up near thirty three Kings who reigned in that space but do not agree either in their names or number and therefore we shall let them pass as Fairy Princes and proceed XIV Helie is the next in order from whom some think the Isle of Ely is named though others affirm it to arise from a multitude of Eels into which the married Priests were said to be transformed for refusing to obey St. Dunstans Order That Priests should tive single though the true denomination may come from Helig in Brittish a Willow with which that Isle abounds This Helie had three Sons Lud Cassibelane and Nunnius XV. Lud succeeded his Father in the year of the World 3895. And before the birth of Christ seventy two He was a very worthy Prince who repealed many old Laws and evil customs establishing better He repaired several decayed Cities but took particular delight to beautify Troynovant now London which he enlarged with buildings and fortified with strong Walls Towers and Gates and among the rest Ludgate so called from him to this day He founded a Temple where it is thought St. Pauls now stands and a Pallace not far off judged to be Baynalds Castle whereby this City became famous and full of Inhabitants above any other in the Land the name was changed to Cair Lud or Luds Town and afterward London He was successful against his enemies bountiful in hospitality and very much honoured and belov'd of all his people and having reigned prosperously eleven years he died and was buried neer Ludgate leaving two sons Androgeus and Theomantius who being under age their uncle XVI Cassibelane was admitted to the administration of the Government wherein he behaved himself with so much justice and uprightness that the Brittains had little regard to the sons of Lud But least it might be thought he usurped their right he assigned them an honourable maintenance during their nonage Androgeus enjoying London and the County of Kent and Theomantius the County of Cornwall while Cassibelane ruled in Brittain Julius Caesar being sent by the Senate of Rome with a mighty Army for the conquest of Gallia or France after he had subjected them resolved to try his fortune in subduing Brittain which the Romans knew nothing of but by report yet had heard that great supplies came daily thence to assist the Gauls their Enemies and though it was now towards Winter he resolved to attempt the discovery of their Ports and the nature and manners of the Inhabitants of which he could receive no satisfaction from such Merchants as traded thither Hereupon he draws his Forces toward Callice called then Itius Portus and sent out a small vessel to survey the Coasts and return again The Merchants giving notice to the Brittains of the intended Invasion all that were able were put into arms and several Citys who it seems had particular Governors of their own sent Ambassadors to offer subjection to the Romans whom Caesar received with much kindness and sent one of his Commanders back with them to persuade the other Citys to submit themselves likewise But he names no King they had nor is Cassibelan mentioned till his second Voyage though the Brittish Historys say That Caesar required Tribute of him who answered He had not yet learned to live in bondage but with sword in hand resolved to defend the Liberty of his Countrey if the Romans blinded with covetousness and ambition should adventure to disquiet them The Galley that went upon discovery returning in five days with a full account of all the Coasts on that side Caesar imbarqued two Legions of Souldiers in several Ships and about midnight departed from Callice arriving next day at noon upon the Brittish Shoar near Dover which he found all covered with men of War to inintercept his landing who observing the inconvenience of going aland there because of the high Cliffs from whence the Brittains might annoy them with their bows and darts he sailed seven or eight miles farther toward Deale where the shoar was more flat and level Which the Brittains perceiving caused all their Horse and Chariots of War wherein they fought to march thither the rest soon following so that Caesar much doubted of success yet resolving to venture he brought his great Ships as near land as possible from whence his Souldiers issuing were forced to march a great way in the water loaden with their heavy armour and were briskly assailed by the Brittish Horse who went into the Sea and couragiously assaulted them with their arrows at such disadvantage that the Romans unused to this kind of fighting were ready to give ground which Caesar perceiving ordered the Galleys to row near the shoar and annoy the Brittains with their Darts and slings while their companions got to land At which the Brittains having never seen Galleys with Oars were much amazed and being severely galled with the Roman Artillery they began a little to retire which a Roman Ensign-bearer observing he cryed out Leap out now Worthy Companions in Arms if you will secure the Ensigns of your Honour from the Enemy for I am resolved to do my duty both to the Common-wealth and my General And therewith throwing himself into the water he marched with his Ensign directly toward the Enemy The Romans doubting the disgrace of losing their Ensign leapt out of their Ships with all expedition and followed their gallant Leader but were put into some disorder finding no sure footing in the water and not able to march orderly under their own Ensigns of which the Brittains took the advantage and being acquainted with the shelves and shallows of the Water they again feircely encountred them with their Horse so that a multitude of them would incompass a small party of the Romans and the numerous Darts of the Brittains from the shoar galled them exceedingly which Caesar observing caused his Souldiers to go into small boats for releiving those who were most distrest and thus new succours continually supplying the place of those that fell the Romans at length got all to land and putting themselves into order soon forced the undisciplined Brittains to fly but could noâ— pursue them for want of their Horse which they lefâ— behind in France and expected long ere now which seemed a little to cross the fortune of Caesar who in all other enterprizes was usually exceeding successful After this the Brittains sensible of their own weakness sent Hostages to treat of Peace and with them the Roman Ambassador that Caesar had before sent to persuade them to subjection whom contrary to the Law of Arms they had made Prisoner for which he reproved them severely but at length pardoned their folly requiring Hostages to remain with him for securing their Fidelity Having accordingly received them four days after the Romans arrival a Peace was concluded between them at which time the eighteen Ships on which the Horse were imbarqued approached so
drove him toward the Sea and there slew him before he could get to the Haven from whence it is said it obtained the name of Hamo's Haven and after Hampton now Southampton XIX Arviragus succeeded his brother forty six years after Christ who after the departure of Claudius went in progress about the Realm repairing decayed Towns and Citys and making new Laws for governing his people and finding that in short time the Land begun to flourish he was so elated that he denied to pay the Romans their accustomed Tribute whereupon Claudius sent Vespasian afterward Emperor as his Lieutenant into Brittain who attempting to land at Sandwich was valiantly opposed by Arviragus so that sailing farther West he came ashoar at Totnes in Devonshire and beseiged Exeter but by the Queens means a reconciliation was made without blows Thus write the Brittains but Suetonius the Roman Historian relates That Vespasian being sent with a Legion of Souldiers into Brittain fought thirty feveral battels and brought under obedience two mighty Nations and above Twenty Towns with the Isle of Weight Arviragus finding his strength insufficient to contend with the power of the Empire in his old age made a firm League with the Romans which continued till his death who having reigned thirty years dyed and was buried at Glocester In his time about fifty three years after the birth of Christ Joseph of Arimathea being sent by Philip the Apostle came into Brittain with several other Christians preaching the Gospel and instructing them in the Religion of the blessed Jesus whereby many were converted and baptized these Holy men continued here all their lives having a place assigned them by the King near the City of Wells where after was erected the Abbey of Glastenbury This Arviragus was reckoned a very puissant Prince by the Romans as appears by what Juvenal Writes Regem aliquam capies aut de Temone Brittanno Excidit Arviragus It shews to honour thou shalt rise Or some great King restrain Or shake the fierce Arviragus Out of his Brittish Wain After his death the Land was many years under Roman Governors or Lieutenants First Ostorius then Aulus Didius and after him by Pautinus Suetonius during which the Brittains made many Essays for recovering their lost liberty wherein they sometimes prevailed and were otherwhile defeated In the reign of that cruel Emperor Nero Successor to Claudius the Romans received a great overthrow from the Brittains which Paulinus endeavoured to retrieve by assaulting the Isle of Anglesey then fully inhabited with people of desperate fortunes and having provided flat bottom'd boats to ferry over his Forces the Brittains were ready to oppose him on the shore the women likewise with the hair about their ears clothed in strange garments ran about the Camp with firebrands in their hands and a great company of Druids or Priests appeared who lifting their hands toward Heaven thundered out curses and execrations against the Romans who were so much surprized at this unexpected treatment that they suffered themselves to be slain like senseless creatures till by the incitation of their General and their incouraging each other not to be daunted by a company of mad women they came forward with so much fury that they beat down all before them and with their own fires smothered and burnt the Brittains to ashes taking possession of the whole Island and cutting down their woods wherein they use to Sacrifice the Prisoners they had taken to their Gods and by their entrails when dismembered pretended to Divine their future success While Paulinus was thus imployed the Brittains in other parts of the Land got together and consulted how to free themselves from the insupportable slavery and misery wherein they lived one among the rest deploring their wretched condition in words to this effect Dear Countreymen and Friends the more wrongs and injuries we patiently endure from the governing his people and finding that in short time the Land begun to flourish he was so elated that he denied to pay the Romans their accustomed Tribute whereupon Claudius sent Vespasian afterward Emperor as his Lieutenant into Brittain who attempting to land at Sandwich was valiantly opposed by Arviragus so that sailing farther West he came ashoar at Totnes in Devonshire and beseiged Exeter but by the Queens means a reconciliation was made without blows Thus write the Brittains but Suetonius the Roman Historian relates That Vespasian being sent with a Legion of Souldiers into Brittain fought thirty several battels and brought under obedience two mighty Nations and above Twenty Towns with the Isle of Wight Arviragus finding his strength insufficient to contend with the power of the Empire in his old age made a firm League with the Romans which continued till his death who having reigned thirty years dyed and was buried at Glocester In his time about fifty three years after the birth of Christ Joseph of Arimathea being sent by Philip the Apostle came into Brittain with several other Christians preaching the Gospel and instructing them in the Religion of the blessed Jesus whereby many were converted and baptized these Holy men continued here all their lives having a place assigned them by the King near the City of Wells where after was erected the Abbey of Glastenbury This Arviragus was reckoned a very puissant Prince by the Romans as appears by what Juvenal Writes Regem aliquam capies aut de Temone Brittanno Excidit Arviragus It shews to honour thou shalt rise Or some great King restrain Or shake the fierce Arviragus Out of his Brittish Wain After his death the Land was many years under Roman Governors or Lieutenants First Ostorius then Aulus Didius and after him by Paulinus Suetonius during which the Brittains made many Essays for recovering their lost liberty wherein they sometimes prevailed and were otherwhile defeated In the reign of that cruel Emperor Nero Successor to Claudius the Romans received a great overthrow from the Brittains which Paulinus endeavoured to retrieve by assaulting the Isle of Anglesey then fully inhabited with people of desperate fortunes and having provided flat bottom'd boats to ferry over his Forces the Brittains were ready to oppose him on the shore the women likewise with the hair about their ears clothed in strange garments ran about the Camp with firebrands in their hands and a great company of Druids or Priests appeared who lifting their hands toward Heaven thundered out curses and execrations against the Romans who were so much surprized at this unexpected treatment that they suffered themselves to be slain like senseless creatures till by the incitation of their General and their incouraging each other not to be daunted by a company of made women they came forward with so much fury that they beat down all before them and with their own fires smothered and burnt the Brittains to ashes taking possession of the whole Island and cutting down their woods wherein they use to Sacrifice the Prisoners they had taken to their Gods and by their entrails when
she was sensible how treacherously he was destroyed yet durst not discover her knowledge lest it should prevent her revenge Mariamne who suffered in the sorrows of her mother had not the least share in this deplorable misfortune especially in the death of a Brother whom she loved as her own life and though endued with extraordinary patience and discretion could now hardly resist the impetuous violence of her passion and approaching the Corps of her Brother I have nothing now left in this world says she either to fear or hope he for whom I feared and for whom I hoped being now by a secret providence of Heaven taken from me to whose will I desire entirely to resign my self in all things resolving for the future to wean my soul from all temporal felicities and place my affections upon more divine and sublime objects Herod endeavoured to make it appear by his external behaviour and the magnificence of his Funeral whereat he shed many tears that he was no way accessary to his death though Alexandra who knew the truth of the business was the more inraged thereat and resolved to bring speedy vengeance on his head for the same and therefore sent Cleopatra a full account of the whole matter and incited her by all means to assist her who having long desired occasion against Herod enjoined Mark Anthony the Roman General and her Lover to call him to account for his Villanies who having obtained the Kingdom without any just Title imbrued his hands in the bloud of the Royal Family Mark Anthony disliking this cruel act sent for Herod to appear and answer the accusations laid against him who not daring to deny though he much feared Cleopatra's violent prosecution went to Anthony committing the Government of his Kingdom in his absence to his Uncle Joseph with secret Orders That if any mischief should happen to him and prevent his return he should put Mariamne to death for whom he had such an extravagant passion that he was either jealons or envious any should enjoy her even after his decease When Herod was gone Joseph was very conversant with Mariamne both upon account of publick affairs and for his own private divertisement wherein he often discourst of the extraordinary Passion Herod had for her whom he valued above all the World Alexandra the mother seemed to laugh and slight these pretended kindnesses of Herod to her daughter judging them not real but upon design when Joseph being earnest to confirm the truth of his assertions unadvisedly replyed That nothing could be a greater evidence of his ardent love for her than that he could neither live nor die without her since if he should miscarry in his Journey he had commanded him to put her to death to accompany him into the other World. The Ladys were much scandalized at this kind of passion and considered it not as a demonstration of Herods good will to her but rather a manifestation of his sanguinary and malicious nature who at his death would have her perish with him At this time there was a report raised by Herods enemies in Jerusalem that M. Anthony had inflicted so great torments upon him that he died under them whereupon all his Court were much disturbed and especially the Ladys so that Alexandra persuaded Joseph to remove from Court and secure themselves under the protection of the Roman Legions who were at that time quartered about the City under the command of Julius the Tribune where they might be safe if any mischief should happen in the Kings house and have the Romans assistance and that afterward if M. Anthony did but see her daughter Mariamne he would be so taken with her beauty that she might obtain all things at his hands and no doubt he would restore her to her Kingdom and Royal dignity While they were thus consulting there came Letters from Herod of his sudden return who coming into the presence of M. Anthony obtained so much favour by the rich Presents he made him that the matter being suddenly heard it was soon determined in his favour and Anthony fully appeased and satisfied though it were little pleasing to Cleopatra to whom Anthony pleaded That there was no reason a King should be acountable for what he did in his own Kingdom since he would thereby cease to be King who with that dignity had all other Regal power and authority given to him Herod at length returned with large Testimonials of the favour of M. Anthony who entertained him with much kindness in several publick Feasts and Assemblies Cleopatra likewise renounced her pretences to Judea having received of M. Anthony Caelosyria instead of it Upon his arrival his Mother and Sister Solome the wife of Joseph gave him a full account of the intentions of Alexandra and her Friends accusing also her husband Joseph of two much intimacy with Mariamne who it seems had once objected to them the meanness of their birth Herod was much disturbed at the news but however the inflamed affection he bore toward Mariamne restrained him from that violence which his rage and jealousy suggested to him and therefore examining her strictly what secret familiarity had passed between her and Joseph she by many solemn Oaths and Protestations with all manner of Allegations of her innocency so far appeased him that he was fully satisfied she had sufficiently cleared her self from all those slanders raised against her so that he gave her a thousand thanks for her conjugal fidelity and affection to him and openly declared the great esteem and love he had for her At length as it oft happens among Lovers both fell into tears and imbraced each other with a most indearing passion whereupon Mariamne said covertly to him It is no great sign of such unfeigned Love that thou wast so unkind to give command if any ill should happen to thee I should instantly be put to death had who never in the least offended thee neither is it any great argument of love to a wife to desire her company in another World. Herod seemed thunderstruck with these words and fell into such a monstrous rage that he cryed out and tore his hair with the greatest fury imaginable saving He had now very evident proof that Joseph had committed Adultery with her since he would never have discovered what he had so strictly enjoined him to keep secret unless they had put great confidence in each other and that there were much intimacy between them And in this furious jealousy he could hardly refrain from killing his wife yet his former love at length returning he forbore though with much inward trouble and emotion However he ordered Joseph to be instantly put to death without Tryal or Justification and committed Alexandra the author of all these troubles close Prisoner After this Aretas the Arabian King refusing to pay Herod his accustomed Tribute he pretends to make War against him and coming suddenly upon the Arabians was in great probability of obtaining the conquest when Athenio
imploys the people it some other publick works which whilst they were intent upon a great prodigy appears a Serpent 〈◊〉 seen to come out of a Pillar of Wood which much affrighted Tarquin and his whole Court filling his breast with such anxious thoughts that he could not rest till he was satisfied what it did portend There fore though in other strange accidents he used only the judgment of his own Countrey Diviners yet iâ— this extraordinary case he resolved to consult the oracle of Delphos then the most famous upon earth He therefore sends his two elder Sons Titus and Aâ—ron to the oracle who take with them as their companion Lucius Junius Brutus the son of Tarquinia hâ—â— Sister whom he had not only suffered to live after having slain his brother but as a fate permitted hiâ— to keep company with his Sons This young man having heard that the Chief of tâ—â— City were murdered by his Uncle resolved to give him no occasion of fear from any designs of his and knowing there was no greater safety under the Tyrant than to be scorned and neglected since Law and Justice gave little security he that none might covet his fortune industriously feigned himself a fool or mad man which was much assisted by his natural inclination to melancholly permitting the King to dispose of his Person and Estate as he thought fit nay did not refuse the Sirname of Brutus that is Foolish or Sottish though under this title he concealed a noble Soul which afterward discovered it self in delivering the Roman people from slavery At the last Scene he unmasks himself and every one then commends him when they consider him because they did not understand him till the end of the Tragedy The Sons of Tarquin take this dull Brutus along with them to Delphos only for sport and divertisement though it is said he then secretly carried a golden staff inclosed in one of Wood as a present to Apollo which was a sign of his ingenuity They come to the Oracle and having made known their Fathers desires the young men were very earnest to make inquiry of the succession and to which of them the Roman kingdom should fall whereupon they say a voice ascended from the bottom of the Cave saying He among you three shall have the chief dominion in Rome who gives his Mother the first kiss The two brothers agreed to conceal this answer from Sextus the youngest then at Rome lest he should prevent them and to commit it to fortune by Lot which of them should first kiss their Mother when they arrived but Brutus who knew the answers of oracles were seldom very cleer but full of a thousand ambiguities imagining there might be some other meaning in it pretending to fall by chance kissed the earth which he considered was the common Mother of all men living They return to Rome with the answer to their Father whom they find ingaged in War against the Rutilians a rich people and besieging Ardea with whose Spoils the Tyrant hoped to ingage the affections of the Romans who grew very insolent and uneasy for being made so long Carpenters and Masons They first attacked the City by storm but being repulsed laid a formal Siege thereto which made the Campaign more tedious than dangerous so that the Officers had leasure enough to treat and entertain one another The Kings Sons and kinsmen oft feasted each other particularly one night they were drinking together with Sextus where Collatinus Tarquinius the Son of Egerius being in company there grew a contention among them concerning their wives each extolling his own above the rest from whence a quarrel arising Collatinus said there need no dispute in the case since it might easily be known how far his Lucretia excelled the rest Therefore said he It is in vain to talk but if you have any vigor in you let us mount our Horses and go see with our own eyes what kind of lives our wives lead in our absence and that shall be the test of their virtue according as each man shall find her imployed at his sudden arrival They were all heated with Wine and therefore cryed unanimously Come on it is agreed and so galloped to Rome and arriving toward evening went thence to Collatia where they found Lucretia not like the rest of the Kings daughters in Law whom they saw feasting and rioting among their companions but fitting up late at night in the midst of her women spinning and dividing out their work They all grant her the Victory and with one voice commend her above their own She received her husband and the rest very kindly and Collatine having thus got the conquest treated the Royal Youths with a Noble banquet At supper a base lust surprizeth Sextus and her beauty and chastity raising a furious desire in him to enjoy her he resolves to compass his wicked intent with the utmost hazard for the look of a lascivious man is like that of a Basilisk it kills Chastity with beholding it Having ended their Juvenile pastimes for that night the next morning they all returned to the Camp. Not long after Sextus who could find no rest in his mind till he had fulfilled his unlawful desires takes a full resolution to perpetrate that wicked Act and without giving notice to any he secretly returns to Collatia where he was received and treated with all kind of civility by the innocent Lucretia who little imagined upon what impious design he made her that visit but welcomed him with all manner of sweetness as the Friend and Companion of her beloved husband After supper he was conducted to his Chamber but so inflamed with love that sleep was the least thing he desired or intended he revolves in his thoughts the hazard and treachery of this dishonourable attempt and yet sometimes seems to flatter himself with success from the free treatment of this chast soul Quoth he she took me kindly by the hand And gaz'd for tydings in my eager eyes Fearing some bad news from the Warlike Band Where her beloved Collatinus lyes O how her fear did make her colour rise Nor could she put off this her trembling fear Until her husbands welfare she did hear At length taking courage he rises from his uneasy bed and having observed where Lucretia lay he opens the doors and enters her Chamber whom he found fast asleep and approaching the bed with his drawn Sword he lays his hand upon her breast and hath recourse to the instruments of hatred for his assistance in love he who was wont to vent his angry passions against his enemies with his Sword knows not how to lay it aside in prosecuting the most tender passion At this rude approach the poor affrighted Lucretia awaked and finding him in this dreadful posture and her self in so dangerous a state she was extreamly amazed when the villanous Ravisher thus addrest her Lucretia said he Hold your peace I am Sextus Tarquin speak not a word for if you do