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
unto his wished harbour Moreover where Scylla is said to transhap't into this monster by Circe being so faire and beautifull a creature What is it but to demonstrate unto us that all such as digresse from reason and the true institution of good life and manners do withall put on a bestiall and brutish shape since Circe imports nothing else then a wanton â—iâ—illation inciting us to immoderate and unlawful lusts and pleasures and so much I guesse was intended by the Poets in these Fables of Scylla and Charybdis The Goddesses of the Hils Woods Groves and Trees IT is commemorated by Plato in certain of his verses that the Hydriades and Hamadriades much delighted in the musick of Pan who was the god of shepherds and that they used to dance about him the first beginning of the harmony which came from the pipe being invented by him and made from his love the nymph Syrinx by London changed into a reed the manner was thus as Ovid manifests Syrinx one of 〈◊〉 â—raine Chacing with her o'r the plain Aâ—â—'d alike with shaft and bow Each from other would you know Which is which cannot be told Save one was born the other gold Pan he sees himselfe makes fine In his cap he pricks a pine Now growes carelesse of his herd Sits by brooks to prune his beard Meets her and hath mind to woo Much he speaks but more would do Still his profers she denies He pursues and Syrinx flies Past her knees her coats up flew Pan would fain see something new By the leg and knee he guest 't seems the beauty of the rest Wings it adds unto his pace Now the goale he hath in chase She adds further to his speed Now it is no more then need Almost caught alas she cries Some chast god my shape disguise Lâ—don hears and girts her round Spies a reed to make sweet sound Such is Syrinx wondering Pan Puts it to his pipe anon Syrinx thou art mine he said So of her his first pipe made Isacius saith that the Nymph Eccho was beloved of him and that by her he had a daughter called Iringes she that to Medea brought the love potion which she presented to Iason but of Pan and Syrinx Ovid thus speaks Panaque cum preusaem sibi jam Syringa putaret Corpore pro Nymphae calamos tenuisse palustres Pan flying Syrinx when he thought To have catcht about the wast ' Stead of the Nymphs faire body he The fenny reeds imbrac't Which reeds being shaken by the wind making a kind of melody of these he made his first pipe which he called after her name Of the Satyrs Silaeni Fauni and Silvani memorable things have been recorded but all being masculine they belong not to this history in hand therefore I purposely omit them and proceed to our terrene goddesses and of them briefly Oreades THese because they were bred upon the Hils and Mountains were said to have a dominion and divine government over them Strabo cals them the daughters of Phoroneus and Hecataea but Horace in his Iliuds will have them the issue of Iupiter and Oristrade some hold them to be but five in number but Virgil numbers them to be many and companions with Diana in her hunting Quam mille secutae Hinc atque hinc glomerantur Oreades Viz. Such as attend Diana over the banks of Eurota and over the mountains of Cinthus a thousand of the Oreades in her company here and there shining Mnasaea Patarentis hath bequeathed to memory that these were the first that absteined from eating flesh contenting themselves with Chesnuts and Acorus and the fruits of trees One of them called Melissa first found and tasted honie in Peloponnesus with whose taste the Greeks were so pleased that they call all Bees Melissae after her name From hence it came that in the sacreds of Ceres and in all nations the Priests derived their names from her These Nymphs were supposed to have the charge of hils and mountains and sometimes of such wild beasts as they pursued in the company of Diana but the protection of private herds or domestick flocks was not conferr'd upon them so religious were the people of old that neither publick place nor private was destitute of some peculiar and divine power so likewise every element herb root and tree or whatsoever simple was usefull and medicinable or obnoxious and hurtfull to the life of man Those of the mountains were Oreades or Orestiades The Dryades and Hamadriades THe Dryades had predominance over the woods and groves as Pomona over the orchards and gardens The Hamadriades were the genii of every particular tree and as Callimachus in a Hymn to Delos witnesseth of them they begin with their first plantation grow with them and consume and perish as they rot and wither their number is not agreed upon Pausanias in Phocicis cals one of them Tythorera in Arcadicis a second Erato and a third Phigalia Claudianus in laudibus Stiliconis reckons them seven Charon Lampsacenus produceth one Rhaecus who in the countrie of Assyria having a goodly faire oake whose earth shrinking from the root and being ready to fall as he was propping and supporting the tree and supplying the decaied mould about it the nymph or genius of that tree which was to perish with it appeared to him and after thanks for so great a courtesie bid him demand of her whatsoever and it should be granted since by the repairing of that plant she was still to live He taken with her beauty demanded liberty freely to embrace her to his own fill and appetite to which she instantly yielded Apollonius in his Argonaut tels of the father of one Paraebius who going to cut down an ancient faire oake that had stood many years a Nymph in like manner appeared unto him humbly petitioning that he would spare the tree for her sake since the age of it and her and the lives of both were limited alike which he refusing so enraged the other of her fellowes that many afflictions befell both himselfe and his posterity Mnesimachus saith that they are called Dryades because in their oaks their lives are included and Hamadriades because they are born with them and Isacius the interpreter of Apollo because they perish with them I will conclude these with one tale recited by Charon Lampsacenus Archus saith he the son of Jupiter and Calisto being chacing in the forrests incountred one of the Hamadriades who told him how neer she was to ruine in regard that the river running by had eaten away the earth from the root of such a goodly oak to which she pointed and that by saving that he should preserve her at her intreaty he turned the stream another way and supplied the root with earth for which this Nymph whose name was Prospetia granted him her free imbraces of whom he begot Philatus and Aphidantes Whether these relations were true or false is not much to be disputed on if false they were for no other
doth etymologise Melpomene from Molpe which signifies the sweetnesse of the voice for one of the chiefest ornaments in an Orator is first Action then a constancie in Voice Motion and Gesture beseeming and comly Most certain it is that all these things commented of Melpomente either concerning the derivation of her name or her invention of arts meet in this one center to which so many lines aime to signifie to us a well spoken learned and eloquent man from whose lips issue all foecundity and sweetnesse And that he may attain to this elegancy which so much graceth an Oratour behoves him to take counsell of M. Cicero that is to join Wisdome with his Eloquence and substance and matter to his pronuntiation and phrase by which practise he may prove to the Common-wealth a most necessary and profitable member Lastly Fulgentius teacheth that by this Muse is meant a maid given to meditation as first Clio begets a will secondly Euterpe a desire to prosecute that which the will is bent unto thirdly Thalia to be delighted in that which we have acquired fourthly Melpomene to meditate upon that in which we are delighted And so much for meditation or the fourth of the Muses Terpsichore IN the fifth place succeeds Terpsichore whose name is derived à Tâ—â—po delâ—cto and Koreâ—a tripudium that is delighting in dancing This Muse hath no lesse reference to Musick then 〈◊〉 her eldest sister the one governs the voice and hath predoâ—â—nance over songs the other over dancing 〈◊〉 measures They are by the great writers much commended who therefore make the Muse the inventresse of them being the daughter of Jupiter the originall of dancing they derive from the high heavens from the order of the stars and planets from their motion their going forward and return backward which even at the first creation began in an harmonia call measure of the coelestiall bodies Of Dances there be sundry kinds some took name from the song and such was called Emmelcia that was held to be Tragicall a second was called Cordax Comica or a Country dance of such Arriamnus in his Indian Commentaries remembers us some bestow the invention of such upon the Satyrs others affirm that Bacchus by his Orgyan leapings or dances brought the Tyrthenians the Indians and Lydians all warlike nations to his subjection Therefore those that were called Siccinastae they confer on him or some of his fellowes and adherents though the Sicinni were the people of Creet amongst whom that kind of measure was most celebrated In what estimation these were of old may be easily imagined when no sacrifice was offered at Delos but dances were the chiefe in all their superstitious ceremonies The Brachmani a people of India morning and evening in their adoration of the Sun frequently use them Amongst the Aethiopians the Thracians the Aegyptians the Scythians their sacreds are not solemnized without them as first instituted by Orpheuâ— and Musaeus Some danc'd in the honour of Mars The Lacedemonians had them in continuall practise so likewise the Thessalians insomuch that the most wise Socrates after he was grown in years practised to dance and not only gave such exercises an extraordinary character of commendations but numbred them amongst the best Sciences These dances were not in custome without musick especially in their festivals and sacrifices for the boies or young men went in the first place some playing upon harps and pipes and others selected for the dances whose custome was as they tripped and skipped about the Altar they first proceeded so that from the left hand they might incline to the right to observe the course of the Zodiack and again from the right hand turn to the left to imitate the motion of the Primum mobile Pindarus cals Apollo Orcheste that is Saltator a dancer Plato in his first book de Legum latione saith that the first ground of learning proceeded from the works of Apollo and the Muses holding that man untutored and ignorant that was not practised in the measures of the Muses and him accomplished and best instructed that could tread them with the best agility and cunning By which it may be concluded that these Choreae were begot by musick and fetch'd from the very intrails of number used in verse which some of Rith mus call Rime and from other Ethick observations therefore some attribute to her the invention of that which we call Humanitatis Disciplina which signifies The discipline of humanity By the son of Achâ—lous she had the Syrenes though Fulgentius cals them the daughters of Calâ—ope and by Mars Bistone of whom the Country is called Bistonia she is therefore rankt in the fifth place and said Choreis delectari because it is a pleasure and delight to the auditors for the benefits they received by hearing the mysteries of learning and knowledge manifested and laid open unto them as if we should say Terpsichore is a delight in instruction or to take a felicity to be instructed Fulgentius will have Polymnia to take place before her his reason is because after invention or much memory which is Polyhimnia it is then necessary to judge and determine of that which was before devised and invented Cornutus saith that good men transmit the best and greatest part of their lives in delectation and joy or else that they bring pleasure and content to all such with whom they shall converse of which delight this Muse is the patronesse Others think she was so called because she was so pleasing to the society of the rest of her sisters but whence soever she had that name bestowed upon her it was neither idle nor unmomentary the Fable of this Muse thus much insinuating that part of the Muses are intentive only upon serious and solid matters as Philosophy the Mathematicks and the like the rest upon recreations sports and pastimes By which the ancients would teach us That it is not possible but he that hath spent most of his age and study upon Calliope and Vrania but shall in that knowledge be most joifull and filled with all manner of delectation which pleasure and content they signified by dances musick and banquets Erato IN Plato's Sanctuaries it is left recorded that Amor which is love in Greek called Erota which is the name of the Muse of whom we are now to speak and by him called the voice of Venus is known to be nothing else by such as truely understand then the desire of beauty of which Plotinus makes a threeâ—old distinction it is either in the Mind begot by vertue and that is called Vâ—nâ—stas which may extend to a gracefull pleasantnesse in speech or delectable utterance or in the Body of the lineaments and colour meeting in the greatest 〈◊〉 and that is called Decus which is comlinesse or a sweetnesse of proportion the last is the concordance and pleasantnesse of sounds which comprehends in it an excellent though invisible fairnesse or puleâ—â—itude This threefold beauty hath three sences subservient or
imperiall purple Narses the Eunuch had fought under him many brave and victorious battels against the Goths who had usurped the greatest part of Italy from whence he expelled them slew their King and freed the whole Country from many outrages Notwithstanding his great good service he was calumniated to the Emperor and so hated by the Empresse Sophia that she sent him word That she would make him lay by his sword and armour and with a distaffe spin wool amongst her maids to which message he returned answer That he would make such a thread to put in her loom that all the weavers in the Empire should scarce make good cloath on Upon this ground he sent to Alhinus King of the Huns who then inhabited Pannonia asking him why he would dwell in the barren continent of Pannonia when the most fertile Countrie of Italy lay open to his invasion Albinus apprehending this incouragement from Narses in the yeare six hundred threescore and eight made his first incursion into the Emperors consines who sent certain spies to discover the forces of Albinus of which he having intelligence caused all the women to untie their haire and fasten it about their chins thereby to seem men and make the number of his army appear the greater The spies observing them wondred amongst themselves and asked what strange people these were with the Long beards and from hence their names were first derived which hath since been remarkable in the most pleasant and fertile climate of all Italy from them called Lombardy Others say that when they went to fight against the Vandals There was a man that had the spirit of Prophesie whom they besought to pray for them and their good successe in the battell now when the Prophet went to his orisons the Queen had placed her selfe and her women just against the window where he praied with their haire disposed as aforesaid and just as he ended his devotions they opened their casements and appeared to him who presently said to himselfe what be these Long beards to whom the Queen replied To these Long-beards then whom thou hast named let the victory happen thus saith the history Rhodegondis was Queen of France but after her not any Now some may demand the reason why the Salick law was first made by which all women were made incapable of succession in the principalities which as Policronicon relates was this The Crown lineally descending to a Princess of the blood whom for modesties sake he forbears to name or at least their Chronicles are loath to publish this Lady having many Princely sutors neglected them all and fell in love with a Butcher of Paris whom she privately sent for and as secretly married since when all of that sex were by an irrevocable decree disabled of all soveraignty Cassiope was the famous Queen of Aethiopia Harpalice of the Amazons Hippolite of Magnesia Teuca of the Illyrians c. Of these in their places Amongst whom let me not be so unnaturall to her merit or so ungratefull to my Country thrice blest and divinely happy in her most fortunate reign as not to remember that ever to be celebrated Princesse Elizabeth of late memory Queen of England She that was a Saba for her wisedome an Harpalice for her magnanimity witnesse the Camp at Tilbury a Cleopatra for her bounty a Camilla for her chastity an Amalasuntha for her temperance a Zenobia for her learning and skill in language of whose omniscience pantarite and goodness all men heretofore have spoken too little no man hereafter can write too much sacred be still her memory to us on earth as her blessed soule lives ever glorified in heaven Her succeeded though not in her absolute Monarchy yet a Princesse of unspotted fame incomparable clemency unmatchable goodnesse and most remarkable vertue Queen Anne whom all degrees honoured all Nations loved and â—â—â—ongue was ever heard to asperse with the least calumny who in her too short eminence here amongst us was known to be the step of dignity to many but detriment to none in whom all were glad by whom none had ever the least cause of sorrow unlesse in the lamented losse of so grave and gracious a Princesse And for my own part gentle and courteous Reader let me borrow so much of thy pacience that I may upon this so just and good occasion remember a long neglected duty by inserting in this place a few funerall tears upon her hearse A Funeral Ode upon the death of Anna Panareta NOw Hymen change thy saffron weeds To robe and habit sable For joyfull thoughts use Funerall deeds Since nothing's firm or stable This alas we May read and see As in a map or printed table It was not at the time of yeare Birds bid the spring good-morrow Nor when we from the Summer cleare Her warmth and pleasures borrow Nor when full fields Ripe Autumne yields That we are thus involv'd in sorrow But when the barren earth denies Fruits to the reapers mowing When Meteors muster in the skies And no faire fruits are growing When winter cold Dry feare and old His frozen fingers o'r the fire sits blowing When the Sun scants us of his heat And Phoebe tempests threateth When Boreas blustring in his seat His frozen pinions beateth And as a King Above the Spring The fresh and timely buds defeateth In this great barrennesse were we Our plenty made to smother But what might this rare jewell be A Saint a Queen a Mother An Hester faire A Judith rare These dead oh point me out another Save Debora that 's likewise dead Fam'd for her Countries freeing But shall we henceforth see or read Of such another being Oh what a dearth Is now on earth That here none lives with these agreeing Saba was wise so was our Queen For beauty others famed Some for their vertue crown'd have been And in large legends named Who living shall Contend in all With her alas shall be but shamed But since our praises at their best Shorten so farre her merit Leave her to her eternall rest A glorious Sainted spirit For aye to sing Vnto heavens King Thanks for these joies she doth inherit Yet 't is a duty that we owe To give our griefe impression The greater that our sorrowes grow It shewes the lesse transgression A losse like this 'T is not amisse That we then leave to all succession Skies mourn her death in stormy clouds Seas weep for her in brine Thou earth that now her frailty shrouds Lament though she be thine Only rejoice Heaven with loud voice That you are now become her shrine For this appear'd the Blazing starre Yâ—â— fresh in our memory Thaâ— Christâ—ndome both neer and far Might tell it as a story Great Jove is sent With an intent Only to get her to her glory In the Catalogue of Queens having so late remembred the mother how can I forget the daughter she to whom I must give that attribute which all souldiers bestow upon her
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
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
rather a corrupter of their chastities then any way a curer of their infirmities blaming the matrons as counterfeiting weaknesse purposely to have the company and familiarity of a loose and intemperate young man They prest their accusations so far that the Judges were ready to proceed to sentence against her when she opening her brest before the Senate gave manifest testimony that she was no other then a woman at this the Physitians being the more incens'd made the fact the more heinous in regard that being a woman she durst enter into the search of that knowledge of which their Sex by the law was not capable The cause being ready again to go against her the noblest matrons of the City assembled themselves before the Senate and plainly told them they were rather enemies then husbands who went about to punish her that of all their Sex had bin the most studious for their generall health and safety Their importancy so far prevailed after the circumstances were truly considered that the first decree was quite abrogated and free liberty granted to women to employ themselves in those necessary offices without the presence of men So that Athens was the first City of Greece that freely admitted or Midwives by the means of this damosell Agnodice Of women that suffered martyrdome ANd of these in briefe Corona was a religious woman who suffered martyrdome under the Tyranny of Antonius the Emperor Her death was after this manner she was tied by the arms and legs betwixt two trees whose stiffe branches were forced and bowed down for the purpose the bowes being shackned and let loose her body was tossed into the aire and so cruelly dissevered limb from limb Anatholia a virgin by the severe command of Faustinianus the President was transpierc'd with a sword Felicula as Plutarch witnesseth when by no perswasion or threats promises or torments she could be forced to renounce the Christian Faith by the command of Flaccus Comes she was commanded to be shut up in a jakes and there stilled to death Murita had likewise the honour of a Martyr who being banished by Elphedorus a certaine Arrian opprest with cold and hunger most miserably died Hyrene the virgin because she would not abjure her faith and religion was by Sisimmius shot through with an arrow The like death suffered the martyr Christiana under Julian the Apostata Paulina a Roman Virgin and daughter to the Prefect Artemius was with her mother Candida stoned to death by the command of the Tyrant Dioclesian Agatho virgo Catanensis was strangled in Prison by the command of the Consul Quintianus Theodora a virgin of Antioch was beheaded by the tyranny of Dioclesian Julia Countesse of Eulalia suffered the same death under the President Diaconus Margarita a maid and a martyr had her head cut off by Olibrius Zoe the wife of Nicostratus was nailed unto a crosse and so ended her life partly with the torture of the gibbet and partly with the smoke that the executioner made at the foot of the gallowes suffocated Julia Carthagensis because she would not bow to idols and adore the falâ—e heathen gods but was a constant professor of the Christian Faith was martyred after the selfe same manner Emerita the sister of Lucius King of England who had the honour to be called the first Christian King of this Country she suffered for the Faith by fire Alexandria was the wife of Dacianus the President who being converted to the Faith by blessed Saint George was therefore by the bloody murderer her husbands own hands strangled Maximianus the son of Dioclesian with his own hands likewise slew his naturall sister Artemia because that forsaking all Idolatry she proved a convert to the true Christian Faith Flavia Domicilla a noble Lady of Rome was banished into the Isle Ponâ—ia in the fifteenth yeare of the raign 〈◊〉 Dâ—nâ—tian for no other reason but that she constantly professed her selfe to be a Christian These two following suffered persecution under Antonius Verus in France Blondina who is said to weary her tormentors patiently enduring more then they could malitiously inflict insomuch that before she fainted they confessed themselves overcome she ready still to suffer and beare when they had not blowes to give for as oft as she spake these words I am a Christian neither have I committed any evill she seemed to the spectators of her martyrdome to be so refreshed and comforted from above that she felt no paine or anguish in the middest of her torture and in that patience she continued without alternation even to the last gaâ—â— Biâ—â—is one that before through her womanish weaknesse had faiâ—â—ed for fear oâ— torments comming to see her with others exâ—â—uted was so strengthened to behold their constancy that as it were awakened out of her former dream and comparing those temporall punishments which lasted but a moment with the eternall pains of hell fire gave up her selfe freely for the Gospels sake Dionysius in an Epistle to Fabius Bishop of Antioch reckons up those that suffered martyrdome under Decius the Emperor Quinta a faithfull woman was by the Infidels brought into a Temple of their Idols unto which because she denied divine adoration they bound her hand and foot and most inhumanely dragged her along the streets upon the sharp stones but when that could not prevaile with her they beat her head and sides and bruised them against Milâ—stones that done she was pitiously scourged and lastly bloodily executed The same Lâ—ctors laid hands on Apollonia a Virgin but something grounded in years and because she spake boldly in the defence of her Faith first with barbarous cruelty they beat out her teeth then without the City they prepared a huge pile threatning to burn her instantly unlesse she would renounce her Christianity but she seeming to pause a little as if she meant better to consider of the matter when they least suspected leapt suddenly into the fire and was there consumed to ashes Ammomarion a holy Virgin after the suffering of many torments under the same Tyrant gave up her life an acceptable sacrifice for the Gospell Mercuria a vertuous woman and one Dionysia a fruitfull and child-bearing martyr after they were questioned about their faith and in all arguments boldly opposed the Judges were first rackt and tortured till they were past all sence of feeling that done they caused them to be executed Theodosia was a virgin of Tyrus about the age of eighteen years she comming to visit certaine prisoners at Cesarea who were called to the bar and because they stood stedfastly in the defence of the Gospell prepared themselves to hear the most welcome sentence of death pronounced against them which Theodosia seeing gently saluted them comforted them and perswaded them to continue in their constancy withall humbly desired them to remember her devoutly in their praiers which she knew would be acceptable to him for whose love they so freely offered up their lives The Officers this hearing dragged
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
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
she Loves queen in her treasure And could teach the act of pleasure Make Lais in her trade a fool Phâ—ine or Thais set to school To Helen read or could she doe Worth Io and Europa too If these sweets from me she spare I 'll count them toies nor will I care But if my Mistresse constant be And love none alive save me Be chast although but something fair Her least perfection I 'll think rare Her I 'll adore admire prefer Idolatrize to none but her When such an one I find and trie For her I 'll care I 'll live I 'll die Lais. THis Lais as Aristophanes Bizantius relates was a strumpet of Corinth she was called Axine for her ferocity and rudenesse of manners Her all the prime and noblest Heroes of Greece frequented and extasi'd with her beauty came daily in troups to visit her Athenaeus in his Dipsonoph speaks of her Country behaviour and sepulchre reporting her to be so beautifull that the most exquisite Painters of Greece came frequently to her and besought her to bare her neck breasts and other parts of her body before them For when they were to limn any extraordinary Piece wherein was to be expressed Juno Venus Pallas or any wel shaped goddesse or woman her fair feature or lineaments might be their example She had a great emulation with Phrine the Courtizan for they lived both in one age Aristippus the Philosopher sirnamed Cyrenaicus about the season that the Feasts were celebrated to Neptune did yeerly for the space of two months together associate himselfe with this Lais. Diogenes meeting him upon a time O Aristippus saith he thou keepest company with a common Strumpet be rather a Cynick of my Sect then a Philosopher of such loose and dissolute behaviour To whom Aristippus answered Appears it to thee O Diogenes a thing absurd to dwell in an house which others have before inhabited who answered No Or to saile in the same ship saith Aristippus in which divers passengers have before time put to sea Again he answered Neither Nor do I think it replies he O Diogenes worthy thy just taxation to accompany with a woman with whom many others have had commerce Again being by others calumniated for his often repair and publike recourse to her in regard of her common prostitution and therefore the greater blemish to his more austere profession he thus satisfied them This is the difference betwixt me and the rest of her Clients I only enjoy Lais all others are enjoi'd by her When Demâ—sthenes the famous Oâ—ator of Athens desired to have had company with her and she for one nights lodging demanded of him a thousand Drachmes affrighted with the name of so great a sum he thus replied I purpose not to buy repentance so dear A young man much taken with her beauty came to Diogenes the Cinick and asked him this question What if a man should marry with Lais Who presently answered For a young man it is much too soon and for an old man it were far too late Concerning her I have read an elegant Epigram of an old man desirous of company with her at any rate and her witty answer to him Canus rogabat Laidis noctem Myron Tulit repulsam protinus Causamque sensit caput fuligine Fucavit atra Candidum c. White headed Myron did of Lais crave To have one night and be her price would pay Which she deni'd But why he could not have His purpose he perceiv'd his head was gray He knew his age betrai'd him therefore â—e Dies his hair black and did his suit renew She seeing head and face to disagree And them comparing with consideraâ—e view Thus saies Why do'st thou urge me thus the rather Since but ev'n now I did deny thy father Nymphodorus Syracusa in his book De admiraâ—il writes That Lais came into Sicily from Hycaris the most defenced City of that Country but Strattâ— in Macedon or Pausan affirms her to be of Corinth in these words Dic unde sunt ductae puellae Veâ—ere nuper ex Mâ—gaera Corinthiae Decus I ais Ingens Aelian de Varâ—a Histor lib. 10. saith That Lais casting her eies upon a young man of Cyrenaea called Eubatas never left soliciting him by all womanish enticements till she had made him promise her marriage but the solemnization not to be performed till he had returned Victor from the Olympick Games in which having had good successe but fearing to hâ—zard the embraces of a strumpet he took her Picture only and carried it to his City of Cyrena boasting by the way that he had married and borne thence Lais Which she hearing and enraged at the scorn thereof writ to him this or the like Letter O false and perjured man Whose lust hath no satiety Since nothing please thee can Save changes and variety O thou alone Constant to none In nothing setled save impiety Our Sex why dost thou blame Term women sole offenders 'T is you that past all shame Are still your own commenders That care nor fear To whom you swear Cease judging and be now suspenders Phillis was chast and fair Demophoon false and cruell Sapho thought Phaon rare And he term'd her his jewell But Traitors they Their Loves betray Poor we can oft fore-see but not eschew ill Falser then either thou As foulely hast betrai'd me But I 'll beware thee now As Heaven I hope shall aid me All thy procurements And slie allurements Henceforth shall never more perswade me Thy Oaths I hold as Lies As scorn thy crafty smiling Thy shape a meer disguise Thy practice but beguiling All thy protests As scoffs and jeasts And thy fair words no better then reviling Poisons I 'll think thy kisses And from mine keep thee fasting Thy torments count my blisses Thy breathings fear as blastings And thank my fate I now can hate Thee whom I now abandon everlasting It is moreover reported of her That being of purpose conveied into the bed of Xenocrates by the means of his schollers whom he had instructed in all austerity and strictnesse of life but she by no whorish blandishments able to corrupt his temperance his schollers asking her the next morning How she sped she told them They had lodged with her a Statue or an Image but no man Tymaeus in his thirteenth book of histories saith That she was beaten to death with woodden foot-stools by certain women of Thessaly in jealousie and madnesse because she was beloved of a beautifull young man called Pausanias on whom some of them doted This was done at a sacrifice in one of the Chappels of Venus for which cause the place was ever after called The Grove of wicked or unjust Venus Her Sepulcher was neer unto the river Paeneus in Tâ—essaly which runs betwixt the two great mountains of Ossa and Olympus and upon her Tomb-stone this inscription was graven Roboris invicti ac animi sit Graeciae quamvis Victa tamen formae paruit illa suae Laidis ipse parens
my Author tels me greatly supported by the hand of Venus or whether the pitious earth unwilling to hurt or harm such fair and wel-featured limbs and therefore with more then accustomed courtesie favourably received her into her into her lap I am not certaine but the Lady to the wonder of all the beholders was taken up whole and sound without wound or the least astonishment and from thence conducted to the Tent of the Generall who because he made but offer to violate her chastity the ever nobly minded Romans not only took from him the charge of the Army alledging that he that could not govern his own affections was not fit to command others but confined him into the Island Coâ—sica adjacent neer to the continent of Italy Not much lesse strange was that of Perhibaea the daughter of Accathous who when Telamon the son of Aeacus and Eudeides came into the City of 〈◊〉 where she then 〈◊〉 with her father and took her at that advantage that she was by him deviâ—gined and 〈◊〉 his name or person not being known by her oâ— any and so privily escaped and fled away by night 〈◊〉 after perceiving her by assured tokens to be grown big with child and suspecting it to be done by some one of his Citizens or Subjects he was thereat so incensed that banishing all piety or patenall pity he delivered her into the hands of one of his Captains commanding him either to kil her with his sword or cast her into the sea the souldier undertakes the imposition of his Soveraign upon him with many vowes and protestations to perform his pleasure with all strictness and severity but by the way commâ—â—â—â—ting her wretched fortune and loth to be the 〈◊〉 of such youth and beauty created for better use comming neer the Sea-shore and spying a ship there at Anchor he sold her to the chief merchant for a sum of monie returning to the father with an assured relation of his daughters death The 〈◊〉 presently with this fair purchase hoised saile and a 〈◊〉 and gentle gale favouring them they attained unto the Port of Salamine and there harboured where purposing to make sale of their merchandise they exposed them to the publique view amongst the rest they set a price on the Princesse Perhibaea Tâ—lamon who was Duke of Salamine and then resiant in the City took his attendants with him and hearing of this new Merchant went down to the 〈◊〉 to take the first view of his goods and provide himselfe of such things as he wanted amongst all the fair Perhibaea pleased him best whose face he well knew and still remembred what had past betwixt them he bargained for her paid down her price conducted her to his Pallace and there acquainted her with the true passage of all his former proceedings Within few months she brought him a son which he called Ajax and this was that Ajax Telamon who at the siege of Troy betwixt the two armies combatted with bold Hector in the plain of Scamander you shall read this History in Aretades Guidius in his second book inscribed Insulâ— The next that insues hath correspondence with this Lucius Trocius had a beautifull young daughter called Florentia she was stuprated by the Roman Calphurnius and when the act came to the knowledge of her father delivered to the trusty executioner to be cast into the Sea who in the same manner was by him pitied and sold to a Merchant his ship being then bound for Italy where she being exposed to publique sale was seen known and bought by Calphurnius by whom he had a son called Contruscus I proceed to such as have unwittingly been the death of their parents Evenus the son of Mars and Steropes by his wife Alcippa the daughter of Oâ—nnemanus had a beautifull female issue whom he called Marpissa who had vowed perpetuall virginity her Idas the son or Aphareus ravished and stole away which her father hearing prosecuted him even unto his own Country but in vain for not able to overtake them and returning without her in griefe of his lost daughter whom he so deerly loved he threw himselfe into the river Lycormus and was there drowned some think that by his death the stood lost his name and was ever after celled Evenus Dâ—sithae lib 1. rerum Italicarum Anius King of the Etruscious having a rarely featured damosell to his daughter called Salia whose virginity he had vowed to Diana and therefore admitted no suitors though many great and rich offers made unto her at length as she was spotting abroad amongst other Virgins she was espied by one Calthetas a hopefull young Gentleman and â—â—nobled by his family who at the stâ—st sight of her was so extasi'd with her beauty that maugre all tear of pursuit or danger he snatcht her up in his arms and used such means that he got her safe within the wals of Rome Her father following the ravisher but not overtaking him was struck into such a deep sorrow that desperate of all comfort or counsel he violently cast himselfe into the next Foord that parted Rome and his own Kingdome which ever since that time still bears the name of Anius Calihetus had by Salia two brave sons Latinus and Salinus who were famous in their noble and flourishing issue insomuch that some of the best and greatest Families in Rome were proud from them to derive their ancestrie This history is recorded by Aristides Milesius by Alexander and Polihistor lib. tertio Italicorum Of Clamorous Women commonly called Scolds GNeius Pompeius to make his faction the stronger by his friend Munatius sent to Cato that he would be pleased of his two Neeces to contract the one of them to himselfe the other to his son by whom Cato sent word back to Pompeius That though he as a friend took gratefully the free proffer of his friendship and allyance yet being a man he had ever kept himselfe from being intricated in the snares of women but he protested he would adhere unto him in a more firm league of amity than could be contracted by kindred if he would study any thing conducent and profitable for the Common-weal but against the publique good he would neither give nor take hostages calling his Neeces who as some write were his daughters given so in matrimony no better then pledges of much future inconvenience especially in matters of State where the Common-weal is distracted and divided Eras 5. Apophtheg Socrates was wont to say that he had patiently suffered three torments Grammer Poverty and a scolding Wife Xintippe two of which he had prettily well evaded namely Grammer and Poverty but the morosity of a scold he could never put off Anton. Parle 2. Meless Serm. 34. The like may be said of Sausarion the Comick Poet equally tormented with a bitter and railing wife Pittacus Mitelenus having married the sister of Dâ—aco the son of Penthilius a proud insolent and railing woman perswaded a deer friend of his to marry with the
Lâ—dgate Monk of Buty testifies who in English heroical verse compiled his History Constantius saith he the younger succeded his father Constantius as wel in the Kingdome of England as divers other Provinces a noble and valiant Prince whose mother was a woman religious and of great sanctimony this young Prince was born in Britain and proved so mighty in exploits of war that in time be purchased the name of Magnus and was stiled Constantine the Great a noble protector and defender of the true Christian Faith In the sixt year of his reign he came with a potent Army against Maxentius who with grievous tributes and exactions then vexed and oppressed the Romans and being upon his match he saw in a vision by night the sign of the Cross in the air like fire and an Angel by it thus saying Constantine in hoc signo vinces i. Constantine in this sign thou shalt conquer and overcome with which being greatly comforted he soon after invaded and defeated the army of Maxentius who flying from the battel was wretchedly drowned in the river Tiber. In this interim of his glorious victory Helena the mother of Constantine being on pilgrimage at Jerusalem there found the Crosse on which the Saviour of the world was crucified with the three nails on which his hands and feet were pierced Ranulphus amplifies this story of Helena somewhat larger after this manner That when Constantine had surprized Maxentius his mother was then in Brittain and hearing of the successe of so brave a conquest she sent him a letter with great thanks to heaven to congratulate so fair and wished a Fortune but not yet being truly instructed in the Christian Faith she commended him that he had forsaken idolatry but blamed him that he worshipped and beleeved in a man that had been nalled to the Cross The Emperor wrote again to his mother That she should instantly repair to Rome and bring with her the most learned Jewes and wisest Doctors of what faith or beleefe soever to hold disputation in their presence concerning the truth of Religion Helena brough with her to the number of seven score Jewes and others against whom Saint Silvester was only opposed In this controversie the misbeleevers were all nonplust and put to silence It hapned that a Jewish Cabalist among them spake certain words in the ear of a mad wild Bull that was broke loose run into the presence where they were then assembled those words were no sooner uttered but the beast sunk down without motion and instantly died at which accident the judges that sate to hear the disputation were all astonished as wondring by what power that was done To whom Silvester then spake What this man hath done is only by the power of the devil who can kil but not restore unto life but it is God only that can slay and make the same body revive again so Lyons and other wild beasts of the Forrest can wound and destroy but not make whole what is before by them perished then saith he if he will that I beleeve with him let him raise that beast to life in Gods name which he hath destroied in the devils name But the Jewish Doctor attempted it in vain when the rest turning to Silvester said If thou by any power in Heaven or Earth canst call back again the life of this beast which is now banished from his body we wil beleeve with thee in that Deity by whose power so great a miracle can be done Silvester accepted of their offer and falling devoutly on his knees made his praiers unto the Saviour of the world and presently the beast started up upon his feet by which Constantius was confirmed Helena converted al the Jews and other Pagan Doctors received the Christian Faith and were after baptized and after this and upon the same occasion Helena undertook to seek and find out the Cross Ambrose and others say she was an Inne-keepers daughter at Treverent in France and that the first Constantius travelling that way married her for her beauty but our Histories of Britain affirm her to be the fair chast and wise daughter of King Coil before remembred The perfections of the mind are much above the transitory gifts of Fortune much commendable in women and a dowry far transcending the riches of gold jewels Great Alexander refused the beautiful daughter of Darius who would have brought with her Kingdomes for her Dower and infinite treasures to boot and made choice of Barsine who brought nothing to espouse her with save her feature and that she was a scholer and though a Barbarian excellently perfect in the Greek tongue who though poor yet derived her pedigree from Kings And upon that ground Lycurgus instituted a Law That women should have no Dowers allotted them that men might rather acquire after their Vertues then their Riches and women likewise might the more laboriously imploy themselves in the attaining to the height of the best and noblest Disciplines It is an argument that cannot be too much amplified to encourage Vertue and discourage Vice to perswade both men and women to instruct their minds more carefully then they would adorn their bodies and strive to heap and accumulate the riches of the Soul rather then hunt after pomp Vain glory and the wretched wealth of the world the first being everlastingly permanent the last dayly and hourly subject to corruption and mutability Horace in his first Epistle to Mecaenas saith Vitius Argentum est Auro virtutibus Aurum Silver is more base and cheap then Gold and Gold then Vertue To encourage which in either Sex Plautus in Amphit thus saies Virtus praemium est optimum virtus omnibus Rebus anteit profecto c. Vertue 's the best reward and before all Justly to be preferr'd That which we call Liberty Life our Parents Children Wealth Our Country Reputation Honour Health By this are kept though by the bad despis'd All that is good in Vertue is compris'd Moreover all that are Noble Vertuous Learned Chast and Pious have their places allotted them above when on the contrary their souls are buried lower in the locall place of torment then their souls that are laid to sleep iâ— the grave At the blessednesse of the good and future glory assigned unto them Lucan most elegantly aimed at lib. 9. de bello Civili where he thus writes Ac non in Pharia manes jacuere favilla Nec cinis exiguus tantum compescuit umbram c. Which I thus English In th' Pharian flames the bright Soul doth not sleep Nor can so small a Dust and Ashes keep So great a Spirit it leaps out of the fire And leaving the halfe burnt menbers doth aspire And aims up to the place where Jove resides And with his power and wisdome all things guides For now no air his subtil passage bars To where the Axle-tree turns round the stars And in that vast and empty place which lies Betwixt us and the Moon the visible
this day Myrtis Authedonia in a Poem expressed the death of the Damosel Ochne who had been before the destruction of the Heroe Ennostus Praxilla Siconia flourished in the 32 Olympiad whom Antipater Thessatus give the first place unto amongst the nine Lyrick Poets She writ Dithycambi and a Work which was called by her Metrum Praxillium She called Adonis from Hell to demand of him what was most beautiful in Heaven who answered The Sun the Moon Figs Apples Cucumbers That and such like was the Subject of her Poem of which grew a proverb against Lunaticks and mad men every such was called Praxilla's Adonis Nossis the Poetresse was the composer of Greek Epigrams and is by Antipater numbred with Praxilla amongst the Lyricks Myro Bizantia she writ Elegies and such as the Greeks call Melae or Musical Poems she is said to be the mother of Homer and reckoned one of the seven Pleiades the daughters of Atlas she was the wife of Andromachus an illustrious Philosopher Pamphilus her Statue was erected which as Facianus witnesseth was made by Cephisiodotus Damophila was the wife of the Philosopher she was a friend to Sapho and lover whom in all her Poems she strived to imitate Her Hymns were sung at the sacrifices which were celebrated to Diana Pergaea after the manner of the Aetolians and Pamphilians She writ moreover certain books which she titled Libri Amatorii Of Minerva c. MInerva the daughter of Jupiter was for no other reason numbred amongst the gods but for her excellency and cunning in Poetry and other good arts of which she is said to be the first inventresse From her the ancient Athenians have borrowed the immortality of their name Next her we reckon the Corinnas There were three of that name The first called Corinna Thebana or Tanagraea she was the daughter of Archelodorus and Procratia and scholler to Myrtâ—s she in severall contentions five sundry times boâ—e away the Palm from Pindarus Prince of the Lyrick Pâ—ets she moreover published five books of Epigrams of her Propertius speaks The second was called Corinna Thespia she is much celebrated in the books of the ancient Poets especially by Statius The third lived in the time of Augustus and was to Ovid much endeared but of her wantonnesse than her Muse there is more memory extant I come to speak next of Erinna who was sirnamed Teia or as some wil have it Telia of the Island Telos not far distant from Gnidon she flourished in the time of Dion of Syracusa and published an excellent Poem in the Dorick Tongue comprized in three hundred Verses besides divers other Epigrams her stile was said to come neer the majesty of Homers she died when she was but nineteen yeers of age Damophila was a Greek Poetesse and the wife of Pamphilus she was Cousin-german and companion with Sapho Lyrica Poâ—tria she writ many Poems that were called Poemata Amatoria because their argument was meerly of love one Poem she writ in the praise of Diana for so much Theophrastus in the life of Apollonius remembers of her Hyppatia was a woman of Alexandria the daughter of Theon the Geometrician and wife to Isidorus the Philosopher she flourished in the time of the Emperor Arcadius she writ certain books of Astronomy and was froquent in divers kind of Poetry she purchased her selfe much fame for her learning insomuch that she engrossed a great confluence of Auditors in the City of Alexandria where she professed Suidas apud Volaterran Sapho ELianus affirms her to be the daughter of Scamandroniâ—â— Plato of Ariston Suidas and other Greek writers deliver to us that there were two of that name the one called â—rixia a much celebrated Poetesse who flourished in the time of the Poet Alcaeus of Pittachus and Tarquinius Priscus who first devised the use of the Lyre or Harp with a quil some give her the honor to be the inventor of the Lyrick verse the other was called Sapho Mitelaena long after her who was a singer and a strumpet she published â—ny rare and famous Poems amongst the Greeks and therefore had the honor to be called the tenth Muse the reason why she fell in love with Phaon Pliny attributes to the vertue of an herb but Baptista Egnatius a later writer and exquisite both in the Greek and Latin tongues in tranâ—ferring this fable from the originall into the Roman tongue as likewise others of his opinion conclude that Phaoâ— was of the profession of such as get their living by transporting passengers from one side of a river unto another a plain Ferry-man and that it hapned upon a time that Venus comming to the place where he kept his passage without demanding any hire he gave â—ot free transportage not knowing to whom it was he did that courtesie no way suspecting she had been a goddesse This Venus took so gratefully that she thought to requite his freenesse with a bounty far transcending the value of his painâ— She therefore gave him an alabaster box ful of a most pretious unguent teaching him how to apply it with which he no sooner annointed his face but he instantly became of all moâ—â—â—ll creatures the most beautifull of whom the Leâ—bian damosels grew enamoured but especially he was ardently and most affectionately beloved of Sapho Saphon having occasion to passe from Lesbos into Sicily she was tortured in soul for his absence intimating that it was done in despight or disgrace of her first purposed to cast her selfe from Leucate a high promontory in Epyre down into the Sea which she after did yet before she would attempt it she first in an Epistle thought by all the allurements of a womans wit to call him back again into his Country which Ovid in her behalfe most feelingly hath exprest And since it lies so fiâ—ly in my way for the opening of the History I thus give it English Ecquid ut aspecta est c. Is it possible as soon as thou shalt see My character thou know'st it comes from me 〈…〉 not reading of the authors name Couldst thou have known from whom this short work came Perhaps thou maist demand Why in this vain I court thee that profâ—sse the Lyrick strain My love 's to be bewept and that 's the reason No Barbit number suits this tragick season I burn as doth the corn-fields set on fire When the rough East winds still blow high and higher Now Phaon the Typhoean fields are thine But greater flames then Aetnas are now mine No true 〈◊〉 numbers flow from hence The empty work of a distracted sense The Pâ—rhian girle nor the Methimman lasse Now please me not the Lesbians who surpasse Vâ—le's Amithon vile Cidno too the fair So Atthis that did once appear most rare And hundreds more with whom my sins not small Wretch thou alone enjoy'st the loves of all Thou hast a face and youth fit for play Oh tempting face that didst mine eies betray Take Phoebus Faith upon thee and his bow And from
to Larissa in Thessaly he was hired for eight pieces of Gold to watch a dead body but one night for fear the Witches of which in that place there is abundance should gnaw and devour the flesh of the party deceased even to the very bones which is often found amongst them Also Murther by the Laws of God and man is punishable with death besides they that eat mans flesh or deliver it to be eaten are not worthy to live Cornel. lib de Sicariâ—s A twelfth is That they kill as oft by Poisons as by Powders and Magick Spels now the Law saith It is worse to kill by Witchcraft then with the Sword Lib. 1. de Maâ—â—sic A thirteenth is That they are the death of Cattell for which Augustanus the Magician suffred death 1569. A fourteenth That they blast the Corn and Grain and being barrennesse and scarcity when there is a hoped plenty and abundance A fifteenth That they have carnall corsociety with the Devill as it hath been approved by a thousand severall confessions Now all that have made any compect or covenant with the Devill if not of all these yet undoubtedly are guilty of many or at least some and there one coâ—sequently not worthy to live And so much for the Punishment 〈…〉 and other known malefactors I come now to the Rewards due to the Vertuous and first of 〈…〉 Ladies for divers excellencies worthy to be remembred Of Tirgatao Moeotis Comiola Tuâ—ingâ— and others TIrgatao a beautifull and vertuous Lady was joined in marriage to Hecataeus King of those Indians that inhabit â—eer unto the Bosphor which is an arm of the Sea that runneth betwixt two coasts This Hecataeus being cast out of his Kingdome Satyrus the most potent of these Kings reinstated him in his Principality but conditionally That he would marry his only daughter and make her Queen by putting Tirgatao to death But he though forced by the necessity of the time and present occasion yet loving his first wife still would not put her to death according to the Covenant but caused her to be shut in his most defenced Castle there to consume the remaindeâ— of her life in perpetuall widowhood The Lady comforted with better hopes and born to fairer fortunes deceived the eies of her strict keepâ—â—s and by night escaped out of prison This being made known to the two Kings the sonne in law and the father they were wonderfully perplexed with the newes of her flight as fearing if she arrived in her own Country she might accite the people to her revenge They therefore pursued her with all diligence and speed but in vain for hiding her selfe all the day time and travelling by night through pathlesse and unfrequented places at length she arrived amongst the â—xomatae which was the Countrey of her own friends and kindred But finding her father dead she married with him that succeeded in the Kingdome by which means now commanding the Ixomatae she insinuated into the breasts of the most warlike people inhabiting about Moeotis and so levied a brave army which she her selfe conducted She first invaded the Kingdome of Hecataeus and infested his Country with many bloody incursions she next wasted and made spoil of the Kingdome of Satyrus insomuch that they both were forced with all submisse entreaties by embassadors to sue unto her for peace to which she assented having before as hostage of their truce received Metrodorus the son of Satyrus But the two Kings falsified to her their faith and honour for Satyrus dealt with two of his subjects whom he best trusted with whom he pretended heinous displeasure for which flying and retiring themselves to her for refuge they there attend a convenient opportunity to insiderate her life They submitting to her her Court becomes their sanctuary Satyrus sends to demand the offenders she by her letters entreats and mediates their peace and pardon These attend their next occasion the one pretends private conference with her and bowing submissly to her as she enclines her body to attend him the other invades her with his sword her fortunate Belt kept the steel from entring Clamor is made her servants enter the Traitors are apprehended and confesse all that before had passed betwixt Satyrus and them Therefore she commands his son Metrodorus the Hostage to be slain and the two conspirators with him gathers another army and invades the Bosâ—â—â—ean Tyrant She punisheth his perfidiousnesse with Rapes Murthers Combustions and all the Calamities of war till Satyrus himselfe oppressed with miseries and surcharged with griefe expired whom Gorgippus his son succeeded in the Principality but not with any security till he had acknowledged his Crown as given to him by her and with many costly and rich gifts compounded for his peace Polyb. lib 8. This Lady hath a merited name for an invincible courage and a masculine spirit No lesse worthy to be remembred is Comiola Turinga her history is thus reported In that great Navy which Peter King of Sicily sent against Robert King of Naples in the aid of the Lyparitans with other Pâ—inces 〈◊〉 Nâ—â—lemen there was in that fleet one Roland bâ—stard brother to King Peter The Sicilians being defeated by 〈…〉 Roland amongst many other Gentlemen was surpâ—â—â—ed and cast into prison Now when the friends and kinsmen of all such Captives had been carefull of their release and almost all of them were ransomed thence King Peter 〈◊〉 the sloth and cowardise of his subjects the Sicilians neglected his brother and would entertein no discourse that tended to his redemption Whereupon he was put into a more close prison no better then a Dungeon where he was debarred the benefit of light and shortned of his diet where he spent his time in discontent and misery This extremity of his with the Dukes slackneâ—â— in his release comming to the ear of a beautiful young widow of Messana who had a large Dower from her parents and was left infinitely rich by her husband she pitying his distressed estate and withall being somewhat enamored of his person sent to him privately by such as he best trusted to know of him if he would accept of her as his wife if she did instantly pay down his ransome The motion being made he seemed overjoied thanked the heavens for their assistance and with great willingnesse accepted of the motion They are contracted by Proxie and she paies down two thousand ounces of gold for his freedome This done and Roland comming back to Messana he was so far from acknowledging the Contract that he would not so much as see her or confesse himselfe obliged unto her in the smallest courtesie who had it not been for her charitable love and piety might have languished in an uncomfortable durance all the daies of his life Comiola Turninga at this ingratitude much grieved for she had not only paid down so great a sum but that which most afflicted her was that the fame of her marriage being â—ll over-spread the Contract being denied and by
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
the last her history I thus receive in briefe Admetus a King of Greece demanded Alceste in marriage whose father had published an Edict That none should enjoy her save such a one as could reconcile two wild beasts of contrary cruelties and natures opposite to draw without jarring together in his Chariot This Admetus hearing he petitioned to Apollo and Hercules who commiserating his suit the one brought him a Lion the other a Beare both made tame and gentle to his hand who presenting them to the father of Alceste and having yoaked them and made them draw according to the Edict received her as his bride and departed with her thence into his own Country of Thessaly Not long after Admetus falling into a great infirmity of sicknesse and consulting with the Oracle about his health answer was returned That he must necessarily leave the world unlesse he could procure some Friend Kinsman Courtier or other who by sacrificing their own lives to his love might ransome his and by no other means his health to be restored This motion being made to many both neer and deer to him who no doubt had promised more with purpose to perform lesse in conclusion it was refused by all which comming to the eare of Alceste she gave her selfe up to a most willing death to redeem the health and life of her husband and with her own hands slew her self Now tell me O you Satyrists against the sex of women that call them fraile inconstant weak and timorous in which of these two did manly courage noble resolution or conjugall love most shine in him that by suffering death to steal upon him yielded himselfe to the necessity of fate or in her who like a bold Virago with an unmarchable resolution with her own hand extracted that blood from her chast brest with which she writ her selfe a character of honour to outlast all antiquity In these things then you see they may justly claim an equall competence with men but in many things a just priority as in nursing and bringing up children in mannaging the affairs of the house and care of all domestick businesse in providing us Diet Linnen for the back and bed in sewing weaving and in spinning for who cannot imagine how ill great Hercules did become the distaffe But I will cease further to speak in their praise lest I be taxed of palpable flattery and some may lay on me an aspersion That either I lov'd that sex wondrous well in my youth or perhaps now begin to doat on them in my age And since I last spake of that conjoined love that ought to be betwixt man and wife I will produce an Epigram taken from Ausonius to that purpose the inscription is as followeth Ad Vxorem Live as we have liv'd still to each other new And use those names we did when we first knew Let the same smiles within our cheeks be read The same sports thought on we first us'd in bed Let the day never come to see the change That either Time or Age shall make us strange But as we first met let us ever be I thy young man and thou a girle to me To others though I seem like Nestor old And thou more years hast then Cumana told Times snow we will not see though it appears 'T is good to know our age not count our years Such I must confesse Husbands ought to be to their Wives and Wives to their Husbands but they are seldome found in these daies as may appear by a short tale that I wil tell you Three Gentlemen being late at supper in a Tavern every man in curtesie made offer to pay the reckoning at length a motion was made amongst them that because it equally concerned them all to put it to fortune and cast the dice so that committing it to chance the other should be no waies beholding to him for his charges To this two of them assented but the third presuming much upon the love of his wife was willing to put it to another venture both to save his purse and expresse to his friends the gentle disposition of a woman to her husband whose welcome home was still as constant at midnight as at mid-day he therefore made a second motion that to decide the controversie every man should instantly make hast home by turns as they lay nearest in their way and he that did not that thing instantly which his wife bad the whole charge of the reckoning should be imposed upon him and not to part company till they see this done upon which they concluded They went to the next house the Gentleman first knockt at his own door and he was let in the rest followed but the husbaâ—d only shewing himselfe found his wife in the Kitchin how now wife saith he what hast thou reserved for my supper She churlishly replied here is nothing but the porridge the dog hath lapt in you had best sup up them this was sport to the other two and he not willing both to be charg'd and laught at and so doubly punisht did as she bad and so away they went all three to the house of the second His wife was in bed how now sweet heart where are you saith he here sweet husband she answered againe and I pray you come to bed quickly who hastily put off his cloths went to bed and as speedily rose againe to see what would become of the third To his lodging they went and this was he that presuming on his wives gentlenesse drew the rest to the motion being entred he asked the maid for her mistresse who told him she was newly gone to her chamber up the stairs runs he the Gentlewoman asked who is there 't is I sweet wife saith he and for hast stumbled at the uppermost step you had best break your neck down the stairs saith she At which words he pausing a little Nay on my word not so quoth he rather then do that I will even back againe with my friends to the Tavern and pay the reckoning But leaving this which by some mâ—y be â—â—â—sured to be little better then existing I 〈◊〉 break â—ff my introduction and proceed to matter more serious beginning with a briefe summary or catalogue of the names of some famous Queens Mothers and Daughters many of which we shall have occasion to handle more at large in the processe of our Treatâ—se Of Queens Illustrious SEmiramis was Queen of the Assyrians Camilla of the Volscians Nicaula whom some call Saba of the Aethiopians Athalia of the Hebrewes Thomiris of the Scythians Hesther of the Persians Cleopatra of the Aegyptians Zenobia of the Palmyriens Amalasuntha of the Goths of these we shall speak more at large as they fall in course Theolinda of the Longobards or Lombards succeeds This nation dwelt first in Pannonia and were governed by the King Albinus now the reason why they were first so called was this In the time that Justinus sirnamed the Lesse wore the