113 Sybilla Cumaea and her Prophesies 114 Sybilla Samia and her Prophecies 116 Sybilla Cumana and her Prophesies 118 Sybilla Hellespontiaca and her Prophecies 121 Sybilla Phrygia and her Prophesies 122 Sybilla Europaea and her Prophecies 124 Sybilla Tiburtina and her Prophesies ib. Sybilla Aegyptia and her Prophesies 126 Sybilla Erithraea and her Prophecies 127 A discourse of the Virgin Vestals 128 Of Oppia Claudia Fonteia Martia c. 131 Of the Prophetesses 134 The History of a great Magician 136 Of the Hesperides 141 The Pleiades or Hyades and why of the seven Stars but six appear at once 143 Of the Graces 145 Of the Hours 148 Of Aurora or the Morning 149 Of the Night 153 Of Sleep 155 Of Death 159 The Contents of the third Book inscribed Thalia Treating of Illustrious Queens famous Wives Mothers Daughters c. A Discourse concerning Illustrious Women 161 How kissing first came up ibid. Of three Gentlemen and their wives 166 Of Illustrious Queens 167 A Funerall Ode upon the death of Anna Panareta 169 Of divers Ladies famous for their Modesty 171 The wife of Fulvius 174 Of Aretaphila 176 Of Pieria Aspasia c. 178 The memorable History of Odatis 184 Of Aristomache Hyppo and Chiomara c. 185 Of Tertia Aemilia Turia Sulpitia Julia and Portia 187 Of Horestilla Artimesia and Hormisda 188 Of Queen Ada and Zenocrita 190 Of the wise of Pythes 192 Of the wise of Nausimenes 192 Of Ciano Medullina and Erixo ib. A Woman of the City Pergamus 195 Of Stratonica Valeria and Cloelia 196 Of Olympias and the Troades ib. Of the Phocides and women of Chios 200 Of the Persides Celtae Melitae and Tyrrhaenae 202 Examples of Modesty and Magnanimity 204 Of Dido Caesara Gumilda and Ethelburga 209 Of Policrita 213 Of Queens and other Ladies for divers Vertues memorable 214 Of women remarkable for their love to their husbands 220 The Contents of the fourth book inscribed Melpoment of Women incestuous Adulteresses and such as have come by strange deaths A Discourse perswading to good life 225 Of Women incestuous and first of Queen Sâ—miramis 228 Of Tagenna a woman of seventy Cubits high 231 Of Pasiphae 232 Of Canace Canusia and Valeria Tusculana 233 Of Iulia the Empresse 234 The sisters of Cambyses 235 Of Livia Horestilla Lollia Paulina Cesonia c. 237 Of Iocasta 238 Of Crythaeis the mother of Homer 240 An Epitaph upon Homer Prince of Poets 242 A strange Incest 244 Of Cyborea mother to Iudas Iscariot 245 Of Veronica 247 A discourse concerning Adulteresses 248 Of many great Ladies branded with Adultery amongst the Romans 251 A Country fellow and his mistresse 252 The water of a chast woman excellent for the eie-sight 254 Of Laâ—dice an unnaturall wife 255 The birth of Antoninus Commodus 256 Of Phedima and a notable Imposter ibid. Of Beguâ— Queen of Persia 259 Of Queen Olympias and the birth of Alexander 261 The death of Olympias 264 Of Romilda with â—are examples of Chastity ib. Of Ethethurga with her Epitaph 266 A merry accident concerning an Adulteresse 267 A true modern History of an Adulteresse 268 The wife of Gengulphus and divers others 274 The history of Elphritha 276 Of Guâ—â—â—ra with other intermixture of History 280 Of Women that have come by strange deaths 283 Women that died golden deaths ibid. Women that died in Child birth 285 Women that suffered Martyrdome 286 The strange death of Aristoclaea Democrita c. 289 The Hostlers Tale. 292 The Contents of the fifth Book inscribed Terpsichore Entreating of Amazons and other women famous either for Valor or Beauty A Discourse whether Valor or Beauty may claim priority 302 Of the Amazons their originall c. 310 Of other warlike women and those of masculine vertue 316 Examples of Fear ibid. Of Helerna Camilla Maria Puteolana and others ibid. The race of Hyppomanes and Atlanta 322 Of other warlike Ladies 323 A description of the Messagers 325 Of Zantippe and Mirho 327 Of a Sheep and a Shrow 329 A trick of an English scold c. 330 Of English Virago's and of Ioan de Pucil 330 A discourse of Fair women 337 Of Fair women ib. The fair Mistresse of Pisistratus 349 Of Niâ—â—tis 350 Of Bersane 352 Of the wife of Candaules ibid Rowan and Estrilda 355 The fair Lady of Norwich 356 Of Calirrhoe daughter to Boetius 361 Of the wives of Cabbas and Phaillus c. 362 The daughters of Danaus and the sons of Aegyptus 365 Of Manto 366 The wife of Agetus c. 36â— A Vicars daughter 369 A fair witty wench 376 Of women deformed 371 The Contents of the sixt Book inscribed Erato Treating of Chast women and Wantons A Discourse concerning Chastity and wantonness 375 Of Mary the blessed Virgin 380 Of Petronilla the daughter of St. Peter and other chast Virgins 383 Of chast wives and first of Penelope 388 The History of a woman of Casa Nova 393 Of Edeltrudis Editha and others 355 Of wantons 398 Of common Strumpets Concubines and private Mistresses 402 Of such as merited the name of Honest Whores 403 Of Lais. 405 Of Glicerium alias Glicera and others 411 Of Agathoclea 413 Of Cleophis 415 Callipigae Alogunes Cosmartidenes Audia c. 416 Iulia the daughter of Augustus Caesar 418 Harlotta the mother of William the Conqueror 421 Of divers Wantons belonging to sundry famous men Poets and others 422 Of famous Wantons 426 Of Mista and others 427 Of Wantons converted 432 The Contents of the seventh Book inscribed Polihymnia or Memory Entreating of the Piety of Daughters Mothers Sisters and Wives A Discourse concerning Lies Jeasts witty Sayings 439 Of Pious Daughters 447 The love of Mothers to their children 451 Friendship betwixt women 453 The love of Sisters towards their Brothers 456 Of Matrimony and Conjugall love 458 Ceremonies before Marriage 461 Times forbidden in marraige 461 Of Contracts 462 Of Nuptiall Dowers 463 Of Nuptial Gifts or Presents ibid. Of Nuptial Ornaments Pomp Feasts and Epithalamions c. 465 A description of the bride comming from her chamber 467 The bridegroome first appearing 468 The Nuptiall Oâ—â—ering ibid. The Nuptiall Song 469 The entranâ—ce into their Bedchamber ibid. 〈◊〉 Anguries and Nuptiall Expiations 472 〈…〉 of Women to their Hubands 475 Of Bawds 480 Of Age. 483 Of women addicted to Gluttony or Drunkennesse 484 Of women beloved of divers creatures 488 Of women excellent in Painting Weaving c. ibid. Of women contentious and bloody 494 Of women strangely preserved from death and such as have unwillingly been the deaths of their Parents 501 Of Clamorous women commonly called scolds 504 Of Tullia and her sister ibid. Examples of Patience in women 506 Variety of discourse concerning women 510 The daughters of Apollo ibid. The Syrens ibid. Women that have dissembled their shape to good purposes or to bad 511 Women that have changed their Sex 512 The Contents of the eight Book inscribed Urania Entreating of Women every way Learned Of Poetesses and Witches A Discourse of Astrology
snakes made a noise most dreadfull and horrible From whence Pallas first devised the pipe with many heads The form and shape of these Phorcidae Hesiod elegantly describes Crisaor and Pegasus were begot of the blood dropping from Medusa's head as Apollonius Rhodius writes in his building of Alexandria The Gorgons were called Graee as Zetzes explicates in his two and twentieth History Mâ—nander in his book de Mysteriis numbers Sâ—ylla amongst these Gorgons and that they inhabited the Doracian Islands scituate in the Aethiopick sea which some call Goâ—gades of whom they took the names of Gorgones Nimphodorus in his third book of Histories and Theopompus in his seventeenth affirm their girdles to be of wreathed vipers so likewise Polemo in his book to Adaeus and Antigonus The occasion of these fictions are next to be inquited after By these Graee the daughters of Sea-monsters is apprehended Knowledge and such Wisedome as is attained too by Experience They are said to have but one ere which they used when they went abroad because Prudence is not so altogether necessary to those that stay within and solely apply themselves to domestick affairs as to such who look into the world and search after difficulties Of this Wisedome or these Graee not impertinently called the sisters of the Gorgons is meant the pleasures and vain blandishments of the world with the dangers that appertaine to the 〈…〉 from either of which no man without the counsell of 〈◊〉 can acquit himselfe Therefore is Perâ—â—us said to overcome the Gorgons not without the 〈◊〉 of Pluto the eie of the Graeâ— the sword of Mercury and the mirror of Pallas all which who shall use aâ—ight shall pâ—ove himself to be Perseus the friend and son of Iupiter Scylla and Charybdis ACusilaus and Apollonius both nominate Scylla to be the daughter of Phâ—â—cia and Hâ—caete but Homer that her mothers name was Crataeis Chariclides cals her the issue of Phoâ—bantes and Hâ—cate Steâ—ichorus of Lamia Tymeus terms her the daughter of the â—â—ood Cratus Pausanias in Atticis and Strabo in l. 8. agree that this Scylla was the daughter of Nysus King of the Megarenses who surprised with the love of King Mâ—nos stole from her fathers head that purple lock in which consisted the safety of his own life and Kingdome The Athenians having invaded his dominion and seised many of his Townes and wasted the greatest part of his country by their fierce and bloody incursions they at length besieged him in the City Nysaea Some are of opinion that â—â—sus incensed with the foulnesse of that treason caused her to bee cast into the sea where shee was turned into a sea-monster Pausanias avers that she was neither changed into a bird nor a monster of the sea nor betrai'd her father nor was married to Nisus as he had before promised her but that having surprised Nysaea he caused her to be precipitated into the sea whose body tost to and fro by the waves of the Ocean till it was transported as far as the Promontory caâ—led Scylaea where her body lay so long upon the continent unburied till it was devoured by the sea-fouls this gave plâ—ce to that fable in Ovid. Filia purpureum Nisi furata capillum Puppe cadens navis facta refertur avis 'T is said the daughter having stoln her fathers purple hair sair Fals from the hin-deck of the ship and thence sores through the Zâ—nodorus saith that she was hanged at the stern of Minos his ship and so dragged through the waters till she died and that Scylla the daughter of Phorcus was a damosel of incomparable beauty and vitiated by Neptune which known to Amphitrite she cast such an invenomous confection into the fountain where she accustomed to bath her selfe that it cast her into such a madnesse that she drowned her selfe Of his mind is Miro Prianaeus in his first book Rerum Messanicarum Others imagine that she had mutuall consociety with Glaucus the sea god which Circe who was before inamoured of him understanding she sprinkled the well wherein she used to lave her self with such venomous juice that from her wast downwards she was translated into divers monstrous shapes which as Zenodotus Cyrenaeus saith was the occasion of the Fable commented upon her Isaoius thus describes her deformity She had six heads the one of a canker-worm the other of a dog a third of a Lâ—on a fourth of a Gorgon a fifth of a whirl-poole or a Whale the sixâ— of a woman Homer in his Odysses describes her with six heads and twelve feet every head having three order of teeth Virgil in Sileno saith that all ships were wrackt and devoured by those drugs that grew beneath her navell Charybdis She was likewise a most devouring woman who having stolne many Oxen from Hercules which he before had taken from Geryon was by Jupiter stroke with a thunderbolt and so transformed into that monster of the sea others contest that she was slaine by Hercules and after so transhap'd of these divers are diversly opinionated Strabo saith that Homer imagined the vehement flux and reflux of that sea about the concaves of those rocks made so terrible a noise that therefore the Poets fabulated that in her sides and about her interiour parts were the barkings of dogs continually heard Isacius writes that Scilla is a proeminent promontory over against Rhegium in Sicily hanging over the sea under which are many huge and masâ—ie stones hollowed by the billowes in whose concavities many sea-monsters inhabit and when there is shipping in those parts amongst those rocks and shelves they are either swallowed by Charybdis or Scylla Charybdis being scituate directly against Messina and Scylla against Rhegium they are therefore said to be women because afar off these promontories appeare as it were in a feminine shape what fleet soever by the tides and tempests was forc'd upon Charybdis were there shipwrackt and such as by Charybdis were â—ost on the rocks of Scylla were there swallowed In which fable is included the nature of Vertue and Vice No man but in the progresse of his life sailes betwixt these two quicksands if he incline to one hand more then the other he is either swallowed by Scylla or devoured by Charybdis What else doth this signifie but that which Aristotle in his Ethicks illustrates Vertue which is the medium betwixt two extreams both which are to be avoided and the middle wherein is safety to imbraced for mans life is nothing else but a continuall navigation betwixt divers molestations of one hand and tempting and unlawfull pleasures on the other both which are comprehended in these Syrtes or places of certaine destruction For Scylla is so called 〈◊〉 spoliandâ— or repando of spoiling or grieving And Charybdis of sucking up and swallowing betwixt which two dangerous and almost inevitable gulfs a vertuous and a pious man shall in the greatest storms and tempests neither inclining to the right nor the lese securely and with great safety attain
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
To whom the Prince in derision thus spake Basâ— Negromancer how canst thou be my father seeing that to the mighty King Philip here present I owe all filiâ—ll duty and obedience to whom Nectenabus rehearsed all the circumstances before related from the beginning and as he concluded his speech so ended his life How the husband upon this information behaved himselfe towards his wife or the son to his mother I am not certain this I presume it was a kind of needfull policy in both the one to conceale his Câ—coldry the other his Bastardy so much of Olympias concerning the birth of her son Alâ—xander I will proceed a little further to speak of her remarkable death being as majestically glorious as the processe of her life was in many passages thereof worthily infamous Justine in his history relates thus Olympias the wife of Philip and mother of Alexander the Great coming from Epirus unto Macedonia was followed by Aeacâ—dâ—â— King of the Molossians but finding her selfe to be prohibited that Câ—untry whether annimated by the memory of her husband encouraged with the greatnesse of her son or moved with the nature of the affâ—ont and injury as she received it I am not certain but she assembled unto her all the forces of Macedoniâ— by whose power and her command they were both slaâ—â— About seven years after Alexander was possessed of the Kingdome neither did Olympias reign long after for when the murdeâ—â— of many Pâ—iâ—ces had been by her committed rather after an effâ—minate then â—egall manner it converted the favour of the multitude into an irreconcileable hatred which â—eaâ—ing and having withall intelligence of the approach of Cassander now altogether distrusting the fidelity of her own Countrymen she with her sons wife Roxana and her Nephew young Hercules retired into a City called 〈◊〉 or Pictuaâ— in this almost forsaken society were Deidamia daughter to King Aeacidus Thessalonice her own daughtâ—â— in law famous in her father King Philip's memory with diveâ—â— other Princely matrons a small train attending upon them â—ather for shew and state then either use or profit These things being in order related to Cassander he with all speed possible hastens towards the City Pictua and invests himselfe before it compassing the place with an invincible siege Olympias being now oppressed both with sword and tamine besides all the inconveniences depending upon a long and tedious war treated upon conditions in which her â—aâ—e conduct with her trains being comprehended she was willing to submit her selfe into the hands of the conquerour at whose mercy whilst her wavering fortunes yet stood Cassander convents the whole multitude and in a publick oration desires to be counselled by them how to dispose of the Queen having before suborned the parents of such whose children she had caused to be murdered who in sad and funerall habits should accuse the cruelty and inhumanity of Olympias Their tears made such a passionate impression in the breasts of the Macedonians that with loud acclamations they doomed her to present slaughter most unnaturally forgetting that both by Philip her husband and Alexander her son their lives and fortunes were not only safe amongst their neighbour nations but they were also possessed of a forrein Empire and 〈◊〉 from Provinces 〈◊〉 their times scarce heard of but altogether unknown Now the Queen perceiving armed men make towards her and approach her to the same purpose both with resolution and obstinacy she attâ—â—ed in a Princely and majestick habit and leaning in state upon the shoulders of two of her most beautifull handmaids gave them a willing and undanted meeting which the souldiers seeing and calling to mind her former state beholding her present majesty and not forgetting her roiall off-spring illustrated with the names of so many successive Kings they stood still amazed without offering her any 〈◊〉 violence til others sent thither by the command of Cassâ—nder throughly pierced her with their weapons which she 〈…〉 with such constancy that she neither offeâ—â—d 〈…〉 avoid their wounds or expresse 〈…〉 by any 〈◊〉 clamour but after the manâ—◠〈…〉 men submitted her selfe to 〈…〉 her 〈…〉 expressing the invincible spirit 〈…〉 Alexander in which she likewise shewed a singuâ—â—r 〈◊〉 for with her disheveled hair she shadowed her 〈◊〉 leâ—t in sâ—rugling between life and death it might 〈…〉 and with her garments covered her legs and 〈◊〉 lest any thing aboâ—â— her might be found uncomely 〈…〉 Cassander took to wife Thessalonice the the daughâ—â—◠〈◊〉 Aridaeus causing the son of Alexander with his 〈◊〉 Roxane to be keep prisoners in a â—ower called â—â—â—â—phipositana 〈◊〉 ABout the time 〈◊〉 the Huns came 〈◊〉 into Italy and expoiled the Longâ—hards 〈◊〉 laid 〈◊〉 to the City 〈◊〉 and in a hot assault having slain the Duke Oysulphus his wife 〈…〉 Râ—milda 〈◊〉 the Town defensible bravely and resolutely mainteined it against the enemy But as Cacana King of the Anes approached neer unto the wals encouraging his souldiers to hang up their scaling ladders and enter Romilda at the same time looking from a Cittadel cast her eie upon the King who as he seemed unto her with wondrous dexterity behaved himself and with an extraordinary grace became his arms This liking grew into an ardency in love for she that at first but allowed of his presence now was affected to his person insomuch that in the most fierce assaults though her self danger of their crosse-bows and slings she thought within the secure so she had the King her object This fire was already kindled in her breast which nothing could qualifie insomuch that impatient of all delay she sent unto her publike enemy private messengers That if it pleased the King being as she understood a batchelor to accept her as his bride she would without further opposition surrender up the Town peaceably into his hands these conditions are first debated next concluded and lastly confirmed by oath on both sides The Town is yeelded up and Cacana according to his promise takes Romilda to wife but first he makes spoile of the Town kils many and leads the rest captive The first night he bedded with his new reconciled bride but in the morning abandoned her utterly commanding twelve Huns and those of the basest of his souldiers one after another to prostitute her by turns that done he caused a sharp stake to be placed in the middle of the field and pitched her naked body upon the top thereof which entring through the same made a miserable end of her life at which sight the Tyrant laughing said Such a husband best becomes so mercilesse an harlot This was the miserable end as Polycronicon saith of Romilda But better it hapned to her two beautifull and chast daughters who fearing the outrage of the lustfull and intemperate souldiers took purrified flesh of chickens and colts and hid it raw betwixt their breasts the souldiers approaching them took them to be diseased as not able to come neer them by reâ—son of the
The Queen of women and the best of Queens whose magnanimity in war and gentlenesse in peace resolution in the one and generous affability in the other have so sweet a correspondence that when the Canon roared loud at the gates and the bullet forced a passage even through the Palace where she lodged was no more danted in courage nor dismaied in countenance then when the gentle and soft musick melodiously sounded at the celebration of her espousâ—ls Sacred Oh Princely Lady for ever be your memory and fortunate and happy your hopefull posterity may your womb prove a bed of souldiers and your breasts the nursery of Kings may the sons victories redeem the losses or the father and the daughters surmount the fertility of their mother may your future fortunes be answerable to your former vertues that as you have the earnest praiers of all good men so you may have the successe of their wishes which millions that never yet saw you desire but all that understand you know you worthily deserve And to conclude that as you are the last of these in this my Catalogue by order posterity may reckon you the first amongst the Illustrious by merit Of divers Ladies famous for their Modesty OH thou chastity and purity of life thou that art the ornament as well of man as woman from whence shall I invoke thee thou diddest first help to kindle the sacred fires of Vesta where virginity was made Religion Thou that was wont to frequent the chambers of great Ladies with sinlesse and undefiled hands make the beds of the City Matrons and to be obsequious about the Pallats strowed in the Countrie Cottages where I shall find thee now to direct this my pen in her large and unbounded progresse or to tutor me so far that I may know what on this argument thou thy selfe wouldest have done Livy Florus Plutarch and others speaking of the wonder of the Roman chastity Lucretia accuse fortune or nature of error for placing such a manly heart in the breast of a woman who being adulterated by Sextua Tarquinius after she had sent to her friends and to them complained her injuries because she would not live a by-word to Rome nor preserve a despoiled body for so noble a husbands embraces with a knife which she had hid under her garment for the same purpose in presence of them all slew her selfe which was after the cause that the tyrannicall Monarchy of Rome was transferr'd into a Consular dignity Armenia the wife of Tygranes having been with her husband at a sumptuous banquet made by King Cyrus in his Palace Roiall when every one extoll'd the majestie and applauded the goodlinesse of the Kings person at length Tygranes askt his Queen what her opinion was of his magnitude and person She answered I can say nothing Sir for all the time of the Feast mine eies were stedfastly fixt upon you my dear husband for what other mens beauties are it becomes not a married wife to enquire Cornelia the wife of Aemilius Paulus when a great Lady of Campania came to her house and opening a rich casket as the custome of women is to be friendly one with another she shewed her gold rings rich stones and jewels and causing her chests to be opened exposed to her view great variety of costly and pretious garments which done she intreated Cornelia to do her the like curlesie and to shew her what jewels and ornaments she had stored to beautifie her selfe which hearing she protracted the time with discourse till her children came from school and causing them to be brought before her turned unto the Lady and thus said These be my jewels my riches and delights nor with any gayer ornaments desire I to be beautified Fâ—â—i bonae indolis parentum lauta supellex Viz. No domestick necessaries better grace a house then children witty and well disposed Many have been of that continence they have imitated the Turtle who having once lost her mate will ever mourn but never enter into the fellowship of another Therefore Ania Romana a woman of a Noble family having buried her first husband in her youth when her friends and kinred continually laid open the solitude of widdowhood the comfort of society and all things that might perswade her to a second marriage she answered It was a motion to which she would by no means assent For saith she should I happen upon a good man such as my first husband was I would not live in that perpetuall feare I should be in lest I should lose him but if otherwise Why should I hazard my selfe upon one so had that am so late punisht with the losse of one so good It is reported of Portia Minor the daughter of Cato That when a woman who had married a second husband was for many vertues much commended in her presence Peace saith she That woman can neither be happy well manner'd nor truly modest that will a second time time marry But I hold her in this too censorious yet the most ancient Romans only conferred on her the Crown of modesty and continence that was contented with one matrimony as making expression of their uncorrupted sincerity in their continued widdowhood Especially such were most discommended to make choice of a second husband who had children left them by the first resembling their father To which Virgil in the fourth book of his Aeneid seems elegantly to allude Dido thus complaining of the absence of Aeneas Siqua mihi de te suscepta fuisset Ante fugam soboles c. Had I by thee any issue had Before thy slight some pretty wanton lad That I might call Aeneas and to play And prate to me to drive these thoughts away And from whose smiling countenance I might gather A true presentment of the absent father I should not then my wretched selfe esteem So altogether lost as I now seem Plutarch much commends the widdowhood of Cornelia the illustrious mother of the Gracchi whose care having nobly provided for her children and family after the death of her husband she exprest her selfe every way so absolute a matron that Tiberius Gracchus of whom we spake before was not ill counselled by the gods by preserving her life to prostrate his own for she denied to marry with King Ptolomeus and when he would have imparted to her a diadem and a Scepter she refused to be stiled a Queen to keep the honour of a chast widdow Or the like purity was Valeria the sister of Mssâ—lar who being demanded by her kinred and deerest friends why her first husband dead she made not choice of a second answered that she found her first husband Servius to live with her still accounting him alive to her whom she had ever in remembrance A singular and remarkable sentence proceeding from a most excellent matron intimating how the sacred unity in wedlock ought to be dignified namely with the affections of the mind not the vain pleasures
wife of Orgiantes Regulus and born in Galatia Plutarch cals her Oriagontes it is thus related of her The army and the forces of the Gallogrecians being part of them defeated and the rest taken captive by Ca. Manlius then Consull neer to the mount Olympus this Chiomara the wife of Regulus a woman of most known modesty and chastity being first taken and after committed to the custody of a Roman Centurion was forceably by him adulterated A commandment comming from the Consull that all the treasure of which the Lady was possest should be confiscate to the Centurion only her selfe with that ransome to be returned safe and untoucht to her husband she presently promised the Captaine to bring him to a place where all his desires should be satisfied He of a covetous disposition with all celerity hasted with her to the discovery of this Magazine where she before had placed a company of Gallogrecians her Country men and in their language commanded them to fall upon him and kill him which done she cut off his head and presented it to her husband and kneeling to him both expressed the nature of her injury and the manner of her revenge The censures of the Consull Manlius and her husband Regulus both assented in this That she was of courage unmatchable for though her body was brought under the subjection of an enemy neither her mind could bee conquered nor her chastity made captive An ancient woman amongst the Syracusans when all the the subjects of Dionysius with many execrations cursed and openly inveighed against his insufferable cruelties she only was observed morning and evening to sollicite the gods for his long life and happinesse which comming to the eare of the King he caused her to be called before him and demanded of her the cause Why amongst all his oppressed subjects who daily wisht his ruine she alone invoak'd the gods for his health and preservation to whom with an undanted resolution she thus answered That which I do O King is not without due premeditation and grounded both upon reason and judgement for we were before opprest with a Tyrant whose government was very grievous unto us after him succeeded another farre more burdensome and cruell then the former for whose destruction I amongst the rest besought the powers above now you being by succession the third and more bloody and inhumane then the former I therefore with great devotion pray for your continuance lest when you be taken from us the devill himselfe take upon him the Scepter and succeed you in your principality The Tyrant though toucht to the quick yet in regard of her age and fearelesse liberty of her language suffered her to depart unpunisht Thâ—s Tertia Aemilia a famous Roman Lady was the wife of the first Affricanus the mother of Cornelia mother to Caiâ—â— and 〈◊〉 Gracchus She was of such gentlenesse and patience 〈◊〉 knowing her husband to be familiar with one of her handmaids yet she dissembled it lest he that had conquered the third part of the world should have the imputation of any such lightnesse laid upon him being so far from revenge that her husband being dead she gave her bondwoman manumission and married her richly to a freed man of her own Turia was the wife of Quint. Lucretius who when her husband was proscribed by the Triumvirate and therefore instantly to depart into exile only trusting the secrefie of her chambermaid she hid her husband in her house betwixt two chambers where no search could discover him where to her great perill she kept him long without any prejudice or danger expressing therein her singular faith and loialty that when the rest that were confined into Countries remote were exposed to the labour of the body and discontent of the mind he alone under his own roof and in his own chamber lived safe in the bosom of his wife so remarkably loving and constant Sulpitia being strictly kept by her mother Julia lest he should follow her husband Lentulus Crustellio into banishment who by the Triumvirate was confined into Sicily notwithstanding putting on the habit of a servant past through their guards and watches and attended only with two hand-maids and as many men-servants by secret flight came to the place whither he was proscribed leaving all the pleasures and delicates of Rome to participate with the miseries of a husband Pliny writes of another Sulpitia a famous Roman Lady daughter to Paterculus and wife to Quint. Fulvius Flaccus she when the Senate and Decem-virat by inspection into the books of Sybill had decreed that an image should be dedicated to Venus Verticordia by which the minds both of virgins and matrons might be the more alienated from libidinous affections and reduced to the strict rules of modesty and shamefastnesse when to the dedication of this work out of the whole City a hundred of the most chast matrons were to be selected and then out of these hundred ten supposed to be pure above the rest and out of these one to be preferred this Sulpitia carried the suffrage from all for vertue modesty and incomparable chastity This Julia was the daughter of Caius Caesar and wife of Pompetus Magnus after the battell of Pharsalia seeing the garment of her husband brought home sprinkled with his blood and not yet knowing of his death the object so affrighted her that instantly at the sight thereof she sunk down to the earth and in the extremity of that passion was with much paine and anguish delivered of that burden in her womb which no sooner parted from her but in that agony she expired Portia the wife of Brutus and daughter of Cato whose noble resolution and conjugall love to her husband all future ages may admire for heaâ—ing that in the battell at Philippi he was vanquisht and slain when all weapons and instruments of death were strictly kept from her she feared not with her womanish spiriâ— to â—nitate if not exceed the resolution of her father in his death for by swallowing hâ—â— burning coles she expired Herein only they differ that he by a common she by an unheard of death were extinct Horestilla was the wife of Marcus Plautius who by the commandement of the Senate having the charge of threescore ships to pass into Asia his wife so entirely was devoted to his love that she shipt her self with him exposing her self to the dangers of the â—â—a but not able through her weaknesse to endure the casualties appending on so harsh a journie as the distemperature of weather and such like in the City Tarentum fell sick and died Plautius willing to shew himself a husband worthy such a wife when her body was brought to the funerall 〈◊〉 betwixt the ceremonies of annointing her body and taking his leave with a parting kisse fell suddenly upon his naked sword and so slew himself which his friends seeing and lamenting they took him as he was apparelled without so much as
Cumani there is but one only man and that is Aristodemus These words touching all to the quick it imprest in the minds of the more generous a true feeling of their basenesse and slavery with a shame thereof and withall an apprehension of the recovery of their pristine liberties which perceiving she thus proceeded I had rather to purchase my fathers repeale from exile to play the labourer and bear burdens as you do then live the Tyrant in all the surfetting riots and delicacies on the earth and so left them These last words gave confirmation to what they had before scarce apprehended which after brought the embryons of their thoughts unto a timely and full-born action For with the Prince Timotoles they conspired against Aristodemus and Zenocrita had made their entrance free at such time as he was secure and his guard negligent when with great ease and small danger they rusht upon him and flew him Thus by her means her Country recovered their ancient liberties and honours But when great and magnificent gifts were presented her for this good service she refused them all only making one request unto the people That it might be lawfull for her to take the body of Aristodemus and give it a solemn and roiall buriall to which they did not only with great willingnesse condescend but they instituted her the Priest of Ceres supposing it to be an honour no lesse acceptable to the goddesse then worthily becoming her This Pythes lived in the time of Xerxes who had to wife a Noble and wise Lady whose temperance and humanity shall outlive posterity He in his Countrie finding a Mine of gold from whence he had gathered by the industry of his subjects in insinite masse of treasure which he used with no moderation for all his study industry and imployment both of his subjects and servants were in this Mine either in digging Oâ—e or drawing it up or fining and refining it all other actions 〈◊〉 affairs and businesses quite neglected many having died in the Mine and many ready to perish for want of food by reason the earth lay neglected The women came to make a petitionary complaint to the wife of Pyches who understanding their griefs with faiâ—e language returned them back somewhat pacified though not altogether satisfied yet putting them in good hope that their griefes should shortly be redressed They thus dismist she sent for all the Goldsmiths that were known to be exquisite workmen and requesting them into 〈…〉 place 〈…〉 had â—itted them with 〈◊〉 and all 〈◊〉 necessâ—â—y for the purpose she 〈…〉 and 〈◊〉 all kind of fruits as Apples 〈…〉 and such like with whose â—ast her husband was much 〈◊〉 and to 〈◊〉 them all of gold 〈…〉 Mine with a good stomack as 〈…〉 called to ear His Lady served him in a gold 〈◊〉 but with no meat that could be eaten 〈◊〉 very dish 〈…〉 gold Being at the first 〈◊〉 with 〈…〉 as pleased that art should so imitate 〈◊〉 after being much delighted with the object he demanded meat again and calling for such a dish And such a 〈◊〉 as his appetite was best inclined to 〈…〉 whatsoever was brought to the table caused it to be all gold he â—â—ll growing more hungry and very angry withall she made him this modest and effectuall answer O Sir consider with your selfe of these and such like dishes you have provided for your selfe and your subjects plenty but of other viands no plenty at all we have store of artificiall but the use of naturall things hath utterly forsaken us no man tils plowes sowes or manures the fields plantation or hope to reap from the earth is now forgot only we study things unprofitable and as you see unnecessary to please the eie and not the palate the fancy and not the stomack such indeed as to your subjects bring sorrow but no satisfaction great molestation but no meat at all to suffice the necessities of nature This short but pithy speech took such impression on Pythes that though he would not altogether desist from his Mines yet upon her urgence he only peculiarized to himselfe a fifth part of the people and the rest were imploied in agriculture and tillage planting and such things most usefull for mans sustenance This Pythes after many disasters as rich men are seldome without some or other as the death of his children who all came to violent and unexpected death by the means of Xerxes he fell into a wondrous deep melancholy for he hated life and yet was loath to die and like a foolish rich man as this age affords many griefe stil would have killed him had not the thought of his wealth still recovered him therefore he proposed this farewell betwixt the wearinesse of life and the rediousnesse of death There was in the City a great heap of gold by which a river softly glided which was called Pythopolite within the midst of this great magazin he had provided himselfe a Sepulchre and had so turned the channell that the water might come just to the brink of the shore where his monument was ready prepared The work being finished he committed the sole government of the State and Empire to his wife with this charge That none should dare to approach his Tomb but daily send him such a quanty of victuals in a boat by the river and when they found the meat untoucht to forbeare to send any more for they should then imagine him dead And such was the covetous mans end in the middest of his treasure His wife after managed the State with great wisedome and policy and to the generall good of the subject The wife of Nausimenes HErodotus reports of one of the sons of Croesus that he was born dumb and never spake word from his birth being in all things else compleat of an able body and a spirit undanted to supply which defect he used all means possible that art or humane skill could devise but all failing as his last refuge he consulted with the Oracle which returned him this answer Lyde genus Rex multorum c. Thou of the Lydian off spring and the King Of many Nations if such be thy care To know this secret and effect that thing Which divine work no mortall can or dare Be thus resolv'd His tongue shall accent give When save by it thou canst no longer live Croesus being besieged in Sardis and the City taken as first entered by one Mardus Hyreades a Persian that had disguised himselfe of purpose of murder Croesus in his Palace who insinuating into his pâ—esence and now lifting up his hand to strike the fatall blow the King by reason of his present distresse not apprehending the danger which his son comming in at the instant and espying the strings of his tongue were unloosed on the sudden and he cried out Oh man spare the King Croesus and from that time forward his imprisoned voice was ever at liberty More disastrous was that which befell the wife of Nausimenes
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
Tyrants wife to prevent their fury made fast her dore and in her private chamber strangled her selfe Aristotemus had two beautifull young virgins to his daughters both marriageable these they were about to drag into the streets with purpose to destroy them but first to excruciate them with all disgraces and contumacies Which Megisto seeing with her best oratory appeased their present fury proposing to them how shamefull a thing it were for a noble and free state to imitate the insolencies of a bloody and inhumane tyranny liberty therefore was granted the young Damosels at her intercession to retire themselves into their chambers and to make choice of what death best suited with their present fears Myro the elder sister unloosing from her wast a silken girdle fastned it about her own neck and with a smiling and chearfull look thus comforted the younger My sweet and dear sister I more commiserate thy fate then lament mine own yet imitate I intreat thee my constancy in death lest any abject thing or unworthy may be objected against us unagreeable with our blood and quality To whom the younger replied That nothing could appeare more terrible to her then to behold her die therefore besought her by the affinity of sisterhood to be the first that should make use of that girdle and dying before her to leave to her an example of resolution and patience Myro to her made answer I never denied thee any thing sweet soule in life neither will I oppose thee in this thy last request at thy death and for thy sake will I indure that which is more grievous to me then mine own death namely to see thee die When accommodating all things for the present execution she no sooner saw her dead but she gently laid her out and with great modesty covered her Then she besought Megisto on her knees to have a care of them in their deaths that nothing immodest or uncomely might be done to their bodies which granted she not only with courage but seeming joy underwent her fate till she expired nor was there any spectator there present to whom the memory of the tyrant was never so hatefull from whose eies and hearts this object did not extract tears and pity In Megisto is exprest the Magnanimity of spirit but in these following I will illustrate Fortitude in action The Turks busied in the siege of some Towns in Catharo Vluzales and Carocossa two of no mean place and eminence among them wrought so far with the great Admirall that he delivered into their charge the managing of threescore Gallies with munition and men in number competent to make incursions into the bordering Islands then under the State of Venice These two Turkish Captains land their forces before Curzala a City that gives name to the Countrie with purpose invest themselves before it which Antonius Contarinus then Governour of the City understanding like a timeâ—ous and fearfull coward taking the advantage of the night fled with his souldiers thence not leaving the Town any way deâ—ensible which the Citizens understanding all or the most followed after The Town thus left to the weak guard of some twenty men and about fourescore women the Turks give them a bold and fierce assault when these brave viragoes chusing rather to die like souldiers then like their husbands run like cowards some maintaine the Ports others defend the wals and with that noble resolution that what with fire stones scâ—lding water and such like muniments then readiest at hand so opposed the assailants that many of the Turks in that conflict were slain and all repulst retiring themselves with purpose some rest given to the souldiers to salute them with a fresh alarum But fortune was so favourable to these Amazonian spirits that a mighty tempest from the North so cost and distrest the Turks Gallies that they were forced to abandon the Island to dishonour leaving to the besieged a memory worthy to outlive all posterity Of Dido Cesara Gumilda and Ethelburga OF Dido Queen of Carthage all Authors agree to have falne by the sword and to have died by her own bold resolute hand but about the cause that moved her thereto divers differ Ausonius is of opinion That her husband Sychaeus being dead she did it to preserve her viduall chestity and so free her selfe from the importunities of Hyarbus King of Getulia of his mind is Marullus and of these Remnius or as some will have it Priscianus in the Geography of Dionysius writing De scitu orbis i. the Scituation of the world Contrary to these is the Prince of Poets he whom Scaâ—ger cals Poeta noster Pub Virgilius who ascribes her death to an impatience of grief conceived at the unkind departure of Aeneas which though it carry no great probability of truth yet all the Latine Poets for the most part in honour of the author have justified his opinion as Ovid in his third book De fâ—stis his Epistles Metamorph. and others works so likewise Angelus Politianus in his Mâ—nto with divers others Just ne in his eighteenth book of Histor speaking of the first erecting of Carthage saith That where they began to dig with purpose to lay the first foundation they found the head of an Oxe by which it was predicted that the City should be futurely fertill and commodious but withall full of labour and subject to perpetuall servitude therefore they made choice of another peece of earth where in turning up the mould they chanced upon the head of a horse by which it was presaged their Collony should in time grow to be a warlike nation fortunate and victorious In what manner she died I refer you to Virgil and will speak a word or two of her sister Anna the daughter of Belus She after the death of her sister forsaking of the City of Carthage then invested with siege by Hyarbus fled to Battus King of the Island Mâ—lita but making no long sojourn there she put again to sea and fell upon the coast of Laurentum where being well known by Aeneas she was nobly received but not without suspition of too much familiarity betwixt them insomuch that jealousie possessing Lavâ—nia the wife of Aenea she conceived an iâ—reconcilable hatâ—ed against Aâ—na insomuch that fearing her threatned displeasure she cast her selfe headlong into the river Numicus and was there drowned for so Ovid reports to his book De fastâ—s But touching the illustrious Queen Didâ— under her statue were these verses or the like engraven in a Greek character interpreted into Latiâ—e by Ausoâ—us and by me in the sacred memory of so eminent a Queen thus Englished I am that Dido look upon me well And what my life was let mâ— viâ—age tell 〈◊〉 farre and smooth what wrinckle can you find In this plain Table to expresse a mind So sordid and corrupt Why then so uneven And black a soule should to a face be given That promiseth all vertue 〈◊〉 where Begott'st thou those all thoughts that
the very name hath been so terrible amongst them as they had rather encertein into their dark and sad dominions ten thousand of their wives then any one man who hears the least character of a Cuckold But having done with this sporting I proceed to what is more serious Of Women remarkable for their love to their Husbands IT is reported of the wives of Wynbergen a free place in Germany that the Town being taken in an assault by the Emperor and by reason the Citizens in so valiantly defending their lives and honours had been the overthrow of the greatest part of his army the Emperour grew so inplacable that the purposed though mercy to the women yet upon the men a bloody revenge Composition being granted and articles drawn for the surrender of the Town it was lawfull for the matrons and virgins by the Emperours edict to carry out of their own necessaries a burden of what they best liked The Emperour not dreaming but that they would load themselves with their jewels and coin rich garments and such like might perceive them issuing from the Ports with every wife her husband upon her back and every virgin and demosel her father or brother to expresse as much love in preserving their lives then as the men had before valour in defending their liberties This noble example of conjugall love and piety took such impression in the heart of Caesar that in recompence of their noble charity he not only suffered them to depart peaceably with their first burdens but granted every one a second to make choice of what best pleased them amongst all the treasure and wealth of the City Michael Lord Montaigne in his Essaies speaks only of three women for the like vertue memorable the first perceiving her husband to labour of a disease incurable and every day more and more to languish perswaded him resolutely to kill himselfe and with one blow to be rid of a lingring torment but finding him to be somewhat faint-hearted she thus put courage into him by her own noble example I quoth she whose sorrow for thee in thy sicknesse hath in some sort paralleld thy torment am willing by one death both to give date unto that which hath for thy love afflicted me and thy violent and unmedicinable torture So after many perswasive motives to encourage his fainting resolution she intended to die with him in her arms and to that purpose lest her hold by accident or affright should unloose she with a cord bound fast their bodies together and taking him in her loving embraces from an high window which overlooked part of the sea cast themselves both headlong into the water As pious affection shewed that renowned matron Arria vulgarly called Arria mater because she had a daughter of the name she seeing her husband Poetus condemned and willing that he should expire by his own hand rather then the stroke of a common hangman perswaded him to a Roman resolution but finding him somewhat danted with the present fight of death she snatcht up a sword with which she transpierc'd her selfe and then plucking it from her bosome presented it unto her husband only with these few and last words Poete non dolet Hold Poetus it hath done me no harm and so fell down and died of whom Martial in his first book of Epigrams hath left this memory Casta suo gladium cum traderet Aria Poeto Quem dedit visceribus traxerat illa suis Si qua fides vulnus quod seci non dolet inquit Sed quod tu facies hoc mihi Poete dolet When Aria did to Poetus give that steel Which she before from her own brest had tane Trust me quoth she no smart at all I feel My only wound 's to think upon thy pain The third was Pompeia Paulina the wife of Seneca who when by the tyrannous command of Nero she saw the sentence of death denounced against her husband though she was then young and in the best of her years and he aged and stooping notwithstanding so pure was her affectionat zeale towards him that as soon as she perceived him to bleed caused her own vein to be opened so to accompany him in death few such presidents this our age affordeth Yet I have lately seen a discourse intituled A true Narration of Rathean Herpin who about the time that Spinola with the Bavarians first entred the Pallatinate finding her husband Christopher Thaeon Appoplext in all his limbs and members with an invincible constancy at severall journies bore him upon her back the space of 1300 English miles to a Bath for his recovery These and the like presidents of nuptiall piety make me wonder why so many Satyrists assume to themselves such an unbridled liberty to inveigh without all limitation against their Sex I hapned not long since to steale upon one of these censorious fellowes and found him writing after this manner I wonder our fore-fathers durst their lives Hazard in daies past with such choice of wives And as we read to venture on so many Methinks he hath enow that hath not any Sure either women were more perfect then Or greater patience doth possesse us men Or it belongs to them since Eve's first curse That as the world their Sex growes worse and worse But who can teach me Why the fairer still They are more false good Oedipus thy skill Or Sphinx thine toresolve me lay some ground For my instruction good the like is found ' Mongst birds and serpents did you never see A milk white Swan in colour like to thee That wast my mistresse once as white as faire Her downie breasts to touch as soft as rare Yet these deep waters that in torments meet Can never wash the blacknesse from her feet Who ever saw a Dragon richly clad In golden scales but that within he had His goâ—ge stufe full of venome I behold The woman and methinks a cup of gold Stands brim'd before me whence should I but sip I should my fate and death tast from thy lip But henceforth I 'll beware thee since I know That under the more spreading Misceltow The greater Mandrake thrives whose shrieke presages Or ruine or disaster Who ingages Himselfe to beauty he shall find dependants Contempt Disdain and Scorn with their attendants Inconstancy and Falshood in their train Wait loosnesse and intemperance But in vain Before the blind we glorious objects bring Lend armour to the lame or counsell sing To them will find no ears be 't then approv'd None ever fair that hath sincerely lov'd If beautifull she 's proud if rich then scorn She thinks becomes her best But ' ware the horn Thou man if she be crost once bright or black Well shap'd or ugly doth she fortunes lack Or be she great in means haunts she the Court City or Countrie They all love the sport Further he was proceeding when I staied his pen and so stopped the torrent of his poeticall raptureo and so laid before him
familiarities had past betwixt him and her mistresse who only bore him faire outwardly and in shew when another enjoied both her heart and body inwardly and in act and that upon her own knowledge and to confirm he accusation nominated the man who was his neerest and most familiar friend At this report the Gentleman was startled but better considering with himselfe told her he thankt her for her love but could by no means beleeve her relation fiâ—st by reason he knew her Ladies breeding and was confirmed in her known modesty and vertue as having himself made tryall of both to the uttermost having time place and opportunity all things that might beget temptation Lastly for his friend in all their continuall and daily conversation he never perceived either familiar discourse wanton behaviour or so much as the least glance of eie to passe suspitiously betwixt them To which she answered it was so much the more cunningly carried for her own part she had but done the office of a friend and so left him but in a thousand strange cogitations yet love perswading above jealousie he began to interate and call to mind with what an outward integrity she had still borne her selfe towards him and with a purity by no womans art to be distembled Next he bethought himselfe that perhaps the maid might be fallen in love with him and by this calumny might seek to divert him from the affection of her mistresse or else she had taken some displeasure against her and by this means thought to revenge her selfe In the midst of these apprehensions or rather distractions came another letter from the husband complaining of his absence wondring at the cause and urgently desiring his company though never so private where he would reconcile himselfe touching any unkindnesses that might be conceived and withall resolve him what he should trust to concerning some part of his lands The Gentleman still remembring his fathers charge yet thought a little to dispense with it and writ back word knowing every part of the house by reason of his long frequenting it That if he pleased to leave his garden door open at such a time of the night he would accept of such provision as he found and be merry with him for an houre or two and give good reason for his unwilling discontinuance but thus provided that neither wife friend nor servant saving that one whom he trusted with his message might be acquainted with his comming in or going out This was concluded the time of night appointed and every thing accordingly provided They met he old man gave him kind and freely entertainment seeming overjoied with his company and demanding the reason of his so great strangenesse He answered that notwithstanding his own innocence and his wives approved Temperance yet bad tongues had been busie to their reproach measuring them by their own corrupt inteâ—â—ts and therefore to avoid all imputation whatsoever his study was by taking away the cause to prevent the effect his reason was approved and the old man satisfied concerning both their integrities Time cals the old man to his bed and the young Gentleman is left to his rest purposing to be gone early in the morning before any of the houshold should be awake or stirring Being now alone and not able to sleep in regard of a thousand distracted fancies that were pondering in his mind and brain he arose from his bed and walking up and down the chamber after some meditation as of her beautie her vowes her protestation her oaths all pleading together in behalfe of her innocency so far prevailed with him That considering he was now in the same house and that by reason of the old mans age they very often lay asunder that he was acquainted with every staire-case and knew the ready way to her chamber Love conquering all suspicion he purposed once more to visit the place where he had but ever honestly 〈◊〉 with her at all houres and where their intended marriage was by interchange of oaths at first confirmed With this purpose stealing softly up the stairs and listning at the door before he would presume to knock he might heare a soft whispering which sometimes growing louder he might plainly distinguish two voices hers and that Gentleman 's his supposed friend whom the maid had had before nominated where he might evidently understand more then protestations passe betwixt them namely the mechall sinne it selfe At this being beyond thought extâ—si'd scarce knowing how to contein himselfe for the present he remembred him of his sword in his chamber whither he went instantly with intent to return and breaking open the door to transpierce them both in the adulterate act but better judgement guiding him considering what murder was and the baseness to become a personal executioner withall remembring her beauty their often meetings kisses and embraces his heart became too tender to destroy that goodly frame in which nature had shewed her best of art though the devill his worst of envy Therefore he instantly made himselfe ready left the place and without the knowledge of any man or discovering to any what had past returned to his fathers where pondering at full with himselfe the nature of his abuse being beyond example the strictnesse of his oath being not only debarred from marriage but as it were banished from the society of women that she only reserved him as a stale or shadow whilst another carried away the substance that she kept her selfe to be his wife and anothers whore and that from all these no safe evasion could be devised to come off towards her like a Gentleman or towards God like a Christian all these injuries jointly considered drove him into a suddain melancholy that melancholy into a doubtfull sicknesse and that sicknesse into a dangerous distraction insomuch that his life was much feared and he with great difficulty recovered but by the help of good Physitians being cured and the counsell of his best friends comforted he at length gathered strength and prepared himselfe for a second travell with purpose never more to revisite his Country where such an unnaturall monster was bred But before his departure the old man hearing what he intended sent for him to his house to take of him an unwilling leave at the importunity of his own father he was forced to accompany him thither where he must of necessity take another view of his betrothed mistresse and his treacherous friend Dinner being past with his much impatience it was generally imputed to his loath to depart when his sadnesse was meerly grounded upon her impudence Parting growing on she singles him for a farewell weeping in his bosome wringing him by the hand beseeching him to have a care of his safety but especially of his vow and promise all which proceeded from such a 〈◊〉 felt passion as he almost began to question what in his own notion he knew to be infallible But instead of a reply he delivered her a letter which he
the women of the City with the Virgins houshold servants and intent 〈◊〉 meeting but the matrons and wives of the nobility 〈…〉 night-festivall in a conclave or parlor by themselves 〈◊〉 she 〈◊〉 her selfe with a sword and with her two daughters secretly conveied her selfe into the Temple 〈◊〉 the time when all the matrons were most busie about the ceremonies and mysteries in the conclave then having made fast the doors and shut up the passages and heaped together a great quantity of billets with other things combustible provided for the purpose but especially all that sweet wood that was ready for the sacrifice of that solemnity she set all on fire which the men hastning to quench in multitudes she before them all with a constancy undaunted first slew her daughters and after her selfe making the ruins of this Temple their last funerall fire The Lacedemonians having now nothing left of Alcippus against which to rage they caused the bodies of Democrita and her daughters to be cast out of the confines of Sparta For this ingratitude it is said by some that great earthquake hapned which had almost overturned the City of Lacedemon from Democrita I come to Phillus Demophron the son of Theseus and Phaedra the halfe brother to Hippolitus returning from the wars of Troy towards his Country by tempests and contrary winds being driven upon the coast of Thrace was gently received and affectionately enterteined by Phillis daughter to Lyâ—urgus and Crustumena then King and Queen of that Country and not only to the freedome of all generous hospitality but to the liberty and accesse unto her bed He had not long sojourned there but he had certain tidings of the death of Muesthaeus who after his father Thesâ—us was expulsed Athens had usurped the principility pleased therefore with the newes of innovation and surprized with the ambition of succession he pretending much domestick businesse with other negotiations pertaining to the publike government after his faith pawned to Phillis that his return should be within a month he got leave for his Countrie therefore having calked and moored his ship making them serviceable for the sea he set saile towards Athens where arrived he grew altogether unmindfull of his promised faith or indented return Four months being past and not hearing from him by word or writing she sent him an Epistle in which she complains of his absence then perswads him to cal to mind her more then common courtesies to keep his faith ingaged to her and their former contract to make good by marriage the least of which if he refused to accomplish her violated honour she would recompence with some cruel and violent death which she accordingly did for knowing her selfe to the despised and utterly cast off she in her fathers Palace hanged her selfe From Phillis I proceed to Deianeira Jupiter begat Hercules of Alâ—mena in the shape of her husband Amphitrio joining three nights in one whom Euristius King of Micena at the urgence of his stepmother Juno imploid in all hazardous and fearfull adventures not that thereby he might gaine the greater honour but by such means sooner perish but his spirit was so great and his strength so eminent that from forth all these swallowing dangers he still plunged a victor amongst these difficulties was that combat against Achelous a Flood in Aetolia who transhaped himself into sundry figures for the love of Deianeira daughter to Oeneus and Althaea King and Queen of Calidon and sister to Meleager he whom no monsters nor earthly powers could came by the conquest of Achilous won Deianeira for his bride But he whom all tyrants and terrours were subject to submitted himselfe to effeminacy and the too much dotage upon women for when Euritus King of Oechalia had denied him his daughter Iole before promised him the City taken and the King slaine he took her freely into his embraces with whose love he was so blinded that her imperious command he laid by his club and Lions skin the trophies of his former victories and which was most unseemly for so great a conquerour parâ—on a womanish habit and blusht not with a distasse in his hand to spin amongst her damosels In briefe what slavery and servitude soever he had before suffered under the tyranny of Omphale Queen of Lydia of whom he begot Lamus he endured from her which Deianeira hearing in a letter she â—aies open to him all his former noble act and victories that by comparing them with his present 〈◊〉 it the better might encourage him to 〈◊〉 the first and deter him from the last But having receved newes of Hercules calamity by reason of the poisoned shire sent him by her servant Lychas dipt in the blood of the Centaur Nessus in which she thought there had been the vertue to revoke him from all new loves and establish him in his first for so Nessus had perswaded her when in her transwafcage over the flood Evenus he was slain by the arrow of Hercules dipt in the poison of Lerna when the I say heard of the death of her husband and that though unwilling it hapned by her means she died by a voluntary wound given by her own hand Nor such as that which followes The Ionians through all their Province being punisht with a most fearfull and horrible pest insomuch that it almost swept the City and Country and had it longer continued would have left their places and habitations desolate they therefore demanded of the Oracle a remedy for so great a mischiefe which returned them this answer That the plague should never cease till the young man Menalippus and the faire Cometho were slain and offered in sacrifice to Diana Tryclaria and the reason was because he had strumpeted her in the Temple And notwithstanding their deaths unlesse every yeare at the same season a perfectly featured youth and a virgin of exquisite beauty to expiate their transgression were likewise offered upon the same Altar the plague should still continue which was accordingly done and Menalippus and the faire Cometho were the first dish that was served up to this bloody feast The same author speaks of the daughter of Aristodemus in this manner The Messenians and the Lacedemonians have continued a long and tedious war to the great depopulation of both their Nations those of Missenâ— sent to know of the event of the Oracle at Delphos and to which party the victory would at length incline Answered is returned That they shal be conquerors and the Lacedemonians have the worst but upon this condition To chuse out of the family of the Aepitidarians a virgin pure and unblemisht and this damosel to sacrifice to Jupiter This Aristodemus hearing a Prince and one of the noblest of the family of the Aepitidarians willing to gratifie his Countrie chused out his only daughter for immolation and sacrifice which a noble youth of that Nation hearing surprized both with love and pity love in hope to enjoy her and
wives by reason of their exile halfe in despaire boldly took arms and first retiring themselves and making their own confines defensible after grew to the resolution to invade others Besides they disdained to marry with their neighbours calling it rather a servitude then Wedlock A singular example to all ages Thus they augmented their seigniories and establisht their Common-weal without the counsell or assistance of men whose fellowship they began now altogether to despise and to communicate their losse to make the widdows of equal fortune with the wives they slâ—w all the men that yet remained amongst them and after revenged the deaths of their husbands formerly slain upon the bordering people that conspiâ—ed against them At length by war having setled peace lest their posterity and memory should perish they had had mutuall congression with their neighbour Nations The men children they slew the 〈◊〉 they 〈◊〉 and brought up not in sowing and spinning but in hunting and practise of arms and horsemanship and that they better might use their lances and with the more ease at seven years of age they scared or rather burnt off their right breasts of which they took the name of Amazons as much as to say Vnimammae or Vrimammae i. those with one breast or with a burnt breast There were of them two Queens that jointly held the soveâ—â—ignty Marthesia and Lampedo these divided their people into two armies and being grown potent both in power and riches they went to warre by turns the one governing at home whilest the other forraged abroad and lest their should want honour and authority to their successes they proclaimed themselves to be derived from Mars insomuch that having subdued the greatest part of Europe they made incursions into Asia and there subdued many fortresses and Castles where having built Ephesus with many other Cities part of their army they sent home with rich and golden spoiles the rest that remaine to maintein the Empire of Asia were all with the Queen Marthesia or as some write Marpesiâ— defeated and slâ—â—n In whose place of soveraignty her daughter Orythâ—â— succeeded who besides her singular 〈◊〉 and fortunate successe in war was no lesse admired for her constant vow of virginity which to her death she kept inviolate The bruit of their glorious and invincible acts â—eaching as far as Greece Herculis with a noble assembly of the most heroick youths furnished nine ships with purpose to make proof of their valor two of foure sisters at that time had the principality Antiope and Orythia Orythians was then emploied in forrein expeditions Now when Hercules with the young Hero's landed upon the Amazonian continent Queen Antiope not jealous of the least hostility stood then with many of her Ladies unarmed on the shore who being suddenly assaulted by the Graecians were easily put to rout and they obteined an easie victory in this conflict many were slain and divers taken amongst whom were the two sisters of Antiope Menalippe surprized by Hercules and Hippolite by Theseus he subdued her by arms but was captivated by her beauty who after took her to his wife and of her begot Hippolitus Of her Sâ—â—eca in Agamemnon thus speaks Vidâ— Hippolite ferox pectore è medio rapi Spoâ—â—um sagittas The bold Hippolite did see that day Her breast despoil'd and her shafts tane away Of Menalippe Virgil thus Threicean sâ—xto spoliavit Amazona Baltheo Having relation to the golden belt of Thermedon which was numberd the sixt of Hercules his twelve labours He received that honour and she her liberty Orythia being then abroad and hearing of these outrages and dishonours done at home that war had been commenced against her sister and Theseus Prince of Athens born thence Hippolite whom she held to be no better then a ravisher impatient of these injuries she convented all her forces and incited them to revenge inferring that in vain they bore Empire in Europe and Asia if their dominions lay open to the spoils and rapines of the Grecians Having encouraged and perswaded her own people to this expedition she next demanded aid of Sagillus King of the Scythians to him acknowledging her selfe to be descended from that nation shewes the necessity of that war and the honour of so brave a victory hoping that for the glory of the Scythian Nation his men would not come behind her women in so just an enterprize the successe of which was undoubtedly spoile for the present and fame for her Sagillus with these motives encouraged sent his son Penaxagoras with a great army of horsemen to aid Orythea in this war but by reason of a dissention that fell in the camp the Prince of Scythia withdrew all his auxiliary fâ—â—ces and with them retired into his Country by reason of which defect the Amazons were defeated by the Grecians yet many of them after this battell recovered their Countries After this Orythea succeeded Penthisilaea she that in the aid of Priam oâ— as some say for the love of Hector came to the siege of Troy with a thousand Ladies where after many deeds of chivalry by her performed she was slain by the hands of Achilles or as the most will have it by Neoptolemus she was the first that ever fought with Poleax or wore a Targer made like an halfe Moon therefore she is by the Poets called Peltigera and Securigera as bearing a Targer or bearing a Poleaxe Therefore Ovid in his Epistle of Phaedra Prima securigeras inter virtute puellas And Virgil in his first book of Aeneid Ducit Amazoâ—â—dum lunatis Agmina peltis Penthâ—silaea â—urens mâ—â—iisque in millibus ardet Penthisilaea mad leads forth Her Amazonian train Arm'd with their moonâ—d shields and fights Mâ—dst thousands on the plain These Amazons endured till the time of Alexander and though Isiodorus Eph. 14. saith that Alexander the Great quite subverted their Nation yet Trogus Justine Q. Curtius and others are of a contrary opinion and affirm that when Alexander sent his Embassadors to demand of them tribute otherwise his purpose was to iâ—vade their territories their Queen Minithra or as some writers term her Thalestris returned him answer after this manner It is great wonder of thy small judgement O King that thou hast a desire to â—â—age war against women if thou being so great a conquerour shouldst be vanquished by us all thy former honours were blemished and thou perpetually branded with shame and infamy but if our gods being angry with 〈◊〉 should deliver us up into thy mercy what addition is it to 〈◊〉 honour to have had the mastery over weak women King Alexander it is said was pleased with this answer gâ—anting them freedome and said Women ought to be couâ—ted with fair woâ—ds and flattery and not with rough steel and hostility After this she sent to the King desiring to have his company as longing to have issue by him to succeed the father in 〈◊〉 and vertue to which he assented Some write she
habit and called her selfe Pelagius proceeding in that sanctity of life that where before of Pelagia she was called Pelagus Vitiorum i. A sea of Vices she was after stiled Pelagus Vertutum amarissimus Marath aquas in dulces convertens i. An Ocean of Vertues turning the most bitter Waters of Marath into sweet And thus I conclude with these Wantons wishing all such whose lives have been us ill and infamous that their ends might prove as good and glorious Explicit lib. Sextus Inscriptus Erato THE SEVENTH BOOK inscribed POLYHIMNIA or MEMORY Intreating of the Piety of Daughters towards their Parents Women to their children Sisters to their Brothers Wives to their Husbands c. THere is no gift according to Reason bestowed upon man more sacred more profitable or availing towards the attaining of the best Arts and Disciplines which include all generall Learning then Memory which may fitly be called the Treasure-house or faithful Custos of Knowledge and Unstanding Therefore with great wisdome did the Poets call her the mother of the Muses and with no lesse elegancy did they place Oblivion below in Hell in regard of their opposition and antipathy Our Memory as Sahellicus saith is a benefit lent us from above that hath her existence in Nature but her ornament and beauty from Art Alexand. ab Alex. Lib. 2. cap. 19. That the Aegyptians in their Hieroglyphicks when they would figure any man of an excellent memory they would do it by a Fox or a Hare with upright and erected ears But when they would represent one dull and blockish they did by a Crocodile That Nation of all others hath been remarkable for their admirall retention who before they knew the true use of Letters had all the passages of former ages by heart and still the elder delivered them to the younger keeping no other Records then their own remembrances Themistocles in this was eminent insomuch that Sâ—monides the Poet promising by Art to add something unto that which he had already perfect by Nature he told him he had rather he could teach him the Art of Forgetfulnesse because he was prone to remember such things as he desired to forget but could not forget such things as he gladly would not remember Cic. lib. 2. de Finibus It proceedeth from a moderate temperature of the brain and therefore may be numbred amongst the necessary good things which belong unto mankind Many men have in this been famous but few women unlesse for remembring an injury Most necessary to a good Memory is Meditation for as Ausonius saith in Ludo septem sapientâ—um Is quippe solus rei gerendae est efficax Meditatur omne qui prius negotium He only squares his deeds by measure true That meditates before what shall ensue And again Nâ—hil est quod Ampliorem Curam postulat c. Nothing there is that greater care should ask Then to sore-think ere we begin our task All humane actions justly are derided That are by Chance and not by Counsel guided There is a Proverb frequent amongst us Oportet mendacem esse memorem It behoves a Lyar to have a good memory Neither is the sentence more common then the practise is in these corrupt daies insomuch that one speaking of the generally of it thus said or to the like effect Young men have learnt to lie by practise and old men claim it by authority Gallants lie oftner to their mistresses then with them nay even womens aprons are stringed with excuses Most of our Trades-men use it in bargaining and some of our Lawyers in their pleading The Souldiers can agree with the thing it selfe but quarrels at the name of the word It hath been admitted into Aldermens Closets and sometimes into States-mens studies The Traveller makes the modestest use of it for it hath been his admittance to many a good meal At a meeting of Gentlemen about this Town whether in a Tavern or an Ordinary I am not perfect but amongst other discourse at the Table one amongst the rest began thus It is recorded saith he by a Spanish Nobleman who had been Embassador in Russia that in the time of his residence there a strange accident befel which was after this manner A poor man of the Country whose greatest means to live was by gathering stricks and rotten wood in the forrest and after to make merchandize thereof amongst the neighbour Villages he climbing a hollow tree much spent with age and that Country above many others being full of Bees as appears by their traffick of Wax and Hony of which in the bulk and concavity of the Tree there was such a quantity that treading upon a broken branch and his fâ—ot-hold failing he sell into the trunk thereof where presently he was up to the arm-pits deep in Honey besides the emptinesse above his head not being able to reach to any thing by which he might use the help of his hands In this sweet pickle he continued the space of three daies feeding upon the reliefe the place affoorded but altogether despairing ever to be released thence as not daring to cry or call out for help fearing the danger of wild beasts of which in those wildernesses there are infinite plenty But it so fell out that a mighty great Bear coming that way and by reason of the poor mans moving and stirring himselfe up and down the Tree smelling the Honey which they say Bears have appetite unto above all other things whatsoever he mounts the Tree and as their custome is not daring to thrust in their heads first as fearing to fall headlong provident Nature hath allowed them that foresight as catching fast hold upon the top with their fore-feet with one of their hinder legs as with a plummet they sound the depth of the place and how far it is to the commodity for which they come to search All this the Bear did at such time as the miserable poor man was casting his arms abroad to catch hold of any thing by which he might raise himselfe out of that pittiful Purgatory who meeting with such an unexpected Pulley or Crane catch fast hold upon the Bears leg at which the beast being suddenly affrighted fearing to leave one of his limbs behind him drew it up with such a mighty strength that he pluckt out the man withall to the top where he first fell in by which means the poor wretches life was preserved and the affrighted Bear as if the Devil had been at his tail never looked back till he had got into the thickest part of the wildernesse His discourse being ended and every one admiring the strangenesse of the accident a Traveller that sat next affirmed it for truth as being then in the Country at the same time and thereupon took occasion to discourse of the Cities the Rivers the Manners and Dispositions of the people and withall the coldnesse of the Clime which in some places saith he I protest is so extream that one of my Country men and I talking
together one morning in the fields our words still as we spoke them froze before us in the air and that so hard that such as the next day past that way might read them as perfectly and distinctly as if they had been texted in Capitall Letters to which one of the Gentlemen with great modesty replied Truly Sir methinks that should be a dangerous Country to speak treason in especially in the depth of winter Something before this discourse was fully ended came up the Gentlewoman of the house to bid her guests welcome and taking her chair at the upper end of the table It seems Gentlemen saith she your discourse is of Russia my first husband God rest his soule was a great Traveller and I have heard him in his life time speak much of that Country but one thing amongst the rest which I shall never forget whilst I have an hour to live That riding from Mosco the great City to a place in the Countrie some five miles off in a mighty great Snow and the high way being covered and he mistaking the path he hapned to tumble horse and man into a deep pit from which he could not find any possible way out either for himselfe or for his beast and lying there some two hours and ready to starve with cold as necessity will still put men to their wits so he bethought himselfe and presently stepping to a Village some half a mile off borrowed or bought a spade with which comming back he fell to work and first digged out himselfe and after his horse when mourning he without more 〈◊〉 came to the end of his journey And this saith she 〈◊〉 told to a hundred and a hundred Gentlemen 〈…〉 own hearing To end this discourse in a word which by examples might be exemplified into an infinite one of the guests sitting by said I can tel you a stranger thing then all these being demanded what he answered I beleeve all these things related to be true Plutarch in his book De educandis liberis saith Praeter haec omnia adsuefaciendi sunt pueri ut vera dicant c. Above all things children ought to be accustomed to speak the truth in which consisteth the chiefe sanctimony but to lie is a most servile thing worthy the hate of all men and not to be pardoned in servants Homer Iliad 1. to shew the difference betwixt Truth and Falshood hath these words Poene mihi est orci portis invisior ipsis Cujus verba sonant aliud quam mente recondit He 's to me hatefull as the doors of hell That when he ill doth mean doth promise well Juvenal in his third Satyr gives it a more ful and ample expression after this manner Quid Romae feciam mentiri nescio librum Si malus est nequeo laudare c. What should I do at Rome I cannot lye If a bad Book be laid before me I Nor praise it nor desire it I have no skill In the Stars motions neither can nor will I make deep search into my fathers fate To know when he shall die nor calculate From the Frogs entrails by inspection never Was it my study how by base endeavour To panderize or close conveiance hide Betwixt th' Adulterer and anothers Bride These practises seek they that list t' attain Such as I have been I will still remain This Muse Polyhimnia under whom I patronize this seventh Book as she is the Mistresse and Lady of Memory and consequently of the multiplicity both of Hymns and Histories so from her I assume a kind of liberty to continue my variety of discourse and from Mendacia come to Sales or Dicteria i. From Lies to Jeasts or ingenious witty answers For which Athenaeus in his Dypnos lib. 13. remembers these women famous Lamia Gnathena Lais Glicera Hyppo Nico Phrine Thais Leontium and others Yet lest women should not be content to equall men only but to antecede them I wil here commemorare some things wittily and facetiously spoken by Princes and others Auton in Melissa Part. 1. Serm. 56. speaks of an unskilfull Physitian comming to visit an old friend of his or at least an acquaintance saluting him in this manner Sir God be thanked you have lived to a fair age and are grown an old man Yes Sir said he and you have my health too for I never made use of any Physitian Cicero thus plaid upon Vatinius who was but a few daies Consul A great prodigy saith he there hapned in the year of his Consul-ship That there was neither Spring Summer Autum nor Winter one asking him Why he had neglected to visit the Consul in his honour he answered He had purposed it but the night prevented him He sported in the like kind upon Caninius of him saith he we had a most vigilant Consul who never so much as slept in his Consulship Lucilius Manilius an excellent Painter had drawn wondrous beautiful faces but his children were exceedingly deformed A friend of his supping with him one night taunted him in these words Non similiter â—ingis pingis as much to say Thou dost not get thine own children as thou dost paint others No wonder answered he For I get those faces in the dark but when I paint others I do them by the light of the Sun The Christian Princes having united their forces to redeem the Holy Land from the oppression of the Infidels Santius brother to the King of Spain was made Generall of the Christian forces a man of great sanctity and of an austere life and withall a noble souldier he amongst other Princes sitting in Council with the Pope but not understanding the Roman Tongue in which the businesse was then debated only having his interpreter placed at his feet upon the sudden after their Decree there was a great acclamation and clamour with flinging up their caps c. At which Santius demanded of his interpreter what that sudden joy meant he told him It was because the Pope and Colledge of Cardinals had by their publick sustrage created him King of Aegypt for the Saladine then usurped in the Holy City Is it so saith he then arise and proclaim the Pope Caliph of Baildacha Thus with a Princely liberty modestly taxing their forwardness who as they gave him a Kingdome without a Country he to requite the Popes gratitude gave him a Bishoprick without a Diocesse Pacuvius Taurus having for his former service sued to Augustus Caesar for some great and grosse sum of money and the rather to induce the Emperor to bounty told him That it was voiced in the City and was frequent in every mans mouth how he had already received a large donative from Caesar to whom he answered Let them say what they will but donot thou Pacuvius beleeve it To another that was removed from his command and sued for a pension yet insinuating with the Emperor that it was for no covetous intent or any hope of gain but because it should be
Almighty that she might not so vively love so their chast bodies might not be separated in death As she earnestly praied so it futurely hapned 〈◊〉 died in one day and were both buried in one Sâ—pulchre â—â—ing â—ellowes in one House 〈◊〉 bed and Graâ—â— and now no question 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 Kingdome Thus 〈…〉 But now to return 〈…〉 have been kind to their parenâ—◠〈…〉 Sicilia when the mountain Aetna began first to burn Damon snatcht his mother from the 〈◊〉 Aeneas in the fatall massacre of Troy took his father upon his back his son Ascanius in his hand his wife Câ—â—usa following him and pasâ—ed through the sword and fiâ—e We read like wise in Hyginus of Cleops and Bilias whom Herodotus cals Cleobis and 〈◊〉 who when their mother Câ—dâ—ppe the Priest of Juno Are you should be at the Temple at the appointed hour of the Sacrifice or failing to furfeit her life but when she came to yoke the Oxen that should draw her Châ—rior they were found dead her two sons before named laid their necks under the yoke and supplying the place of those beasts dâ—ew her in time convenient unto the place where the sacred Ceremonies were according to the custome celebrated The Oblations ended and she willing to gratifie theâ—â— filiall duty besought of the goddesse That it ever with chast and undefiled hands she had observed her sacrifice or iâ— her sons had born themselves prouâ—ly and religiously towards her that she would grant unto them for their goodnesse the greatest blessing that could happen to any 〈◊〉 or humane creatures This Praier was heard and the two zealous sons drawing back their mother in her chariot from the Temple unto the place where she then sojourned being weary with their travell laid them down to sleep The mother in the morning comming to give her sons visitation and withall thanks for their extraordinary and unexpected pains and travel found them both dead upon their Pallers by which she conceived That there is no greater blessing to be conferred upon man then a fair death when Love good Opinion and Honor attend upon the Hearse These I must confesse are worthy eternall memory and never dying admiration But hath nor the like piety towards their parents been found in women I answer Yes How did Pelopea the daughter of Thâ—estes revenge the death of her father Hypsile the daughter of 〈◊〉 â—ave her father life when he was utterly in despair of hope or comfort Calciope would not lose her father oâ— leave him though he had lost and left his opinion 〈◊〉 the daughter of Harpalicus restored her father in battel and after defeated the enemy and put him to slight Erâ—gonâ— the daughter of Icarus hearing of the death of her father strangled her selfe Agave the daughter of Cadmuâ— slew the King 〈◊〉 in Illyâ—i and pastest her father of his before usurped Diadâ—m Xantippe fed her father Nyâ—onus or as some will have it Cimonus in prison with milk from her breasts Tyro the daughter of Salmoneus to relieve her father slew her own children Who will be further resolved of these let him search Hyginus And so much shall suffice for filiall duty towards their Pâ—â—eâ—ts Of Sâ—sters that have been kind to their Brothers THE Poets and Historiographers to impresse into us the like naturall piety have left divers presidents to posterity Innumerable are the examples of fraternall love betwixt Brother and Brother To illustrate the other the better I will give you 〈◊〉 of some few Volater lib. 14. cap. 2. dâ— Aâ—ropo relates how in that war which Cai. Cornelius Cinna Tribune being expelled the City with Calus Marius and others commenced against the Romans there were two brothers one of the Pompey's army the other of 〈◊〉 who meeting in the battel in single encounter one slew the other but when the victor came to rifle the deâ—d body and found it to be his own naturall brother after infinite sorrow and lamentation he cast himselfe into the fire where the sloughtered carcasâ—e was burned M. Fabius the Consul in the great conflict against the Heâ—rutians and Veâ—entians obtained a gloâ—ious victory when the Senate and the people of Rome had with great magnificence and cost at their own charge prepared for him an illustrious triumph he absolutely refused that honour because Q. Fabius his brother fighting manfully for his Countrie was slain in that battel What a fraternal piety lived in his breast may be easily conjectured who refused so remarkable on honour to mourn the losse of a beloved brother Valer cap 5. lib. 5. We read in our English Chronicles of Archigallo brother to Gorbomannus who being crowned King of Brittain and extorting from his subjects all their goods to enrich his own Coffers was after five years deposed and deprived of his roiall dignity in whose place was elected Elidurus the third son of Morindus and brother to Archigallo a vertuous Prince who governed the people gently and Justly Upon a time being hunting in the Forrest he met with his brother Archigallo whom he lovingly embraced and found such means that he reconciled him both to the Lords and Commons of the Realm that done he most willingly resigned unto him his Crown and Scepter after he himselfe had governed the Land five years Archigallo was re-instated and continued in great love with his brother reigning ten years and was buried at York after whose death Elidurus was again chosen King What greater enterchange of fraternall love could be found in brothers To equall whom I will first begin with the sisters of Phaeton called by some Heliades by others Phaetontides who with such funerall lamentation bewailed the death of their brother that the gods in commiseration of their sorrow turned them into trees whose transformations Ovid with great elegancy expresseth lib. 1. Metamorph as likewise Virgil in Cutice their names were Phaethusa Lampitiae Phebe c. Antigone the daughter of Oedipus when her brother Eteocles was slain in battel she buried his body maâ—gre the contradiction of the Tyrant Creon of whom Ovid lib. 3. Tristium Fratrem Thebana peremptum Supposuit tumulo rege vetante soror The Theban sister to his Tomb did bring Her slaught'red brothers Corse despight the king Hyas being devouted of a Lyon the Hyades his sisters deplored his death with such infinite sorrow that they wept themselves to death And for their piety were after by the gods translated into stars of whom Pontanus Fratris Hyae quas perpetuus dolor indidit asâ—ris Thus you see how the Poet did strive to magnifie and eternize this Vertue in Sisters No lesse compassionate was â—lectra the daughter of Agameâ—nâ— on her brother Oâ—estes and Iliona the issue of Priam when she heard of the death of young Polydore Stobaeus Serm. â—2 out of the History of Nicolaus de morib gentum saith That the Aethiopians above all others have their sisters in greatest reverence insomuch that their Kings leave their succession not to their children but to these sisters
Theophrasius the Princes of the Philosophers in their age most constantly affirm the transmigration of Witches into Wolves Gasper Peucerus an approved learned man and the Cousen german to Philip Melancthon held these things to be meer fables till by Merchants of worthy reputation and credit he was better informed from certain proofes brought him from Livonia of such that for the same fault were upon their own confessions adjudged to death These and greater are confirmed by Languetus Burgundus Agent for the Duke of Saxonie with the King of France as also by Herodotus Neurios who affirms these conversions and 〈◊〉 shapes to be most frequent in Livonia In the History of 〈◊〉 Tritemius you may read Anno 970. of a Jew called Baranus the son of Simeon who could transform himself into Wolfe at his own pleasure Of the like to these Herodotus Homer Pomponius Mela Solinus Strabo Dionysius Afer 〈◊〉 Virgil Ovid and many others have written long before these times as likewise Epanthes remembred by Pliny and Agrippas in his Olympionicis who speaks of one Demaenetius Parrhasius translated into a Wolfe Or who so would be better confirmed let him read Olaus Magnus of the Nations of Pilapia Narbonia Fincladia and Augermania or else Saxo Grammatius Fincelius and Gulielmus Brabantius And therefore those things are not altogether incredible which Ovid speaks of Lyâ—aâ—n who included much truth in many 〈◊〉 who in his Metamorphosis thus saies Territus ipse fugit noctuque silentia runis Exululat 〈◊〉 que loqui conatur c. Frighted he fliâ—s and having got The silence of the shades Thinking to speak he â—owls and then The neighbour floâ—ks invades So much for monstrous Wolves I come now to meer Witches Saint Augustine in his book de Civitate Dei lib. 18. capâ— 17. and 18. tels of divers hostesses or Inkâ—epers practised in these diabolicall Arts who put such coâ—â—ections into a kind of Cheese they made that all such travellers as guested with them and eat thereof we â—â—presently metamorphosed into labouring beasts as Horses Asses Oxen all which they imploied either in drawing or bearing of burdens or else let them out for Hacknies to gain profit by their hire and when their work was done and they had made of them what benefit they could they restored them to their pristine shape Ranulphus and Gulielmus de Regib lib. 20. relates a History of two such Witches that lived in the road way to Rome A Minstrel or Piper travelling that way tasted of this cheese and was presently changed into an Asse who notwithstanding he had lost his shape still retained his naturall reason and as one Banks here about this City taught his horse to shew tricks by which he got much monie so this Asse being capable of what was taught him and understanding what he was bid to do shewed a thousand severall pleasures almost impossible to be apprehended by any unreasonable creature to all such as came to see him and paid for the sight insomuch that he was sold by these Witches to a neighbour of theirs for a great sum of monie but at the delivery of him saith one of the Witches Take heed neighbor if you mean to have good of your beast that in any case you lead him not through the water The poor transhaped Piper this hearing apprehends that water might be the means to restore him to his former humane figure purposing in himselfe to make proof thereof at his next best opportunity Carefull was the new Merchant of the charge given and watered him still in a pail but would never let him drink from the river but the Master travelling by the way and to ease his beast alighting and leading him in his hand the Asse on the sudden broke his bridle ran out of sight and leaped into the next river he came neer where leaving his saddle and furniture behind he waded out in his own shape the man pursues him with all the speed he can and followes him the way he took the first he meets is the Piper and asks him if he saw not such a kind a beast and describes him to a hair The fellow acknowledgeth himselfe to have been the same Asse he bought of the Witch the Master wondreth and relates this to his Lord his Lord acquaints this novell to Petrus Damianus a man of approved knowledge and wisdome and numbred amongst the greatest scholers of his age he examines the Master the Piper the Witches and such as saw him leap into the river a Beast and return a man and informs Pope Leo the seventh thereof All their examinations and confessions were taken and a disputation of the possibility thereof held in the presence of the Pope before whom the truth thereof was acknowledged and recorded The same History is told by Viacentius in Speculo lib. 3. cap. 109. and Fulgentius lib. 8. cap. 11. We read in Gulielmus Archbishop of Tyrus whom Sprangerus the great Inquisitor cities to the same purpose An English souldier being in Cyprus was by a Witch transformed into an Asse and when all his mates went on Ship-board he following them as loath to lose their fellowship was by his own friends and Country men that gave him lost beaten back with clubs and staves They put to Sea without him he having no other owner returned back to the Witches house that had transhaped him who imploied him in all her drugeries till at length he came into the Church when the Bishop was at divine service and fel on his knees before the Altar and began to use such devout gestures as could not be imagined to proceed from a bruit beast this first bred admiration and then suspition The Witch was called before the Judges examined and convicted after condemned to the stake having before restored him to his former shape after three years transformation Answerable to this we read of Ammonius the Philosopher of the Sect of the Peripatericks who hath left recorded That an Asse came usually into his school at the time of reading and with great attention listned to his Lecture Merchants have delivered that nothing is more frequent in Aegypt then such transhapes insomuch that Bellonius in his observations printed at Lutetia saith That he himselfe in the suburbs of Cair a great City in Aegypt saw a Comedian that desired conference with the Asse that he himselfe rode on who wondering what he then intended gave him liberty of free discourse where they seemed to talke with great familiarity as having been before acquainted where the Asse by his actions and signs seemed to apprehend whatsoever was spoken to him when the one protested with the hand upon his breast the other would strike the ground with his foot and when the man had spoke as if he had told some jeast the Asse would bray aloud as if he had laughed heartily at the conceit appearing to him not only to apprehend and understand whatsoever was spoken but to make answer to such
rest or the weary Traveller to come to his Inne To this purpose Seneca speaks in his Tragedy of Agamemnon Qui vultus Acherontis atri Qui Stygia tristem non tristis videt Audetque vitae ponere finem Par ille Regi par superis erit Fearlesse who dare gaze upon Black and grisly Acheron He that merrily dare look On the gloomy stygian Brook Who so bears his spirit so hie That he at any hour dares die A King he is in his degree And like the gods in time shall be Some may wonder why I have took this occasion to speak of death I will give them this satisfaction The Muse Calliope under whom I patronize this last book being no other then a redundance of sound or one entire Musick arising from eight severall instruments and therefore as she participates from every one so she exists of all therefore in this succeeding tractate I purpose by the help of the divine assistance to take a briefe survey of what hath passed in the eight former books to shew you the punishments belonging to all such vices as I have discovered in the frailty of the Sex to deter the Vicious and expose unto the eies of the Noble Chast and Learned the honour and reward due to their excellent gifts thereby to encourage the Vertuous Then since besides the Shame or Honour in this life the one is punished and the other glorified in the life to come what more necessary meditation then that we may live the better hourly to think of death and that is the scope I aim at but before I can arrive so far I purpose to deliver to you the dispositions conditions and qualities of divers sorts of women by me not yet remembred Of Women Ravished c. MArpissa the daughter of Euenus was ravished by Apollo she was the wife of Idas So Proserpine the daughter of Jupiter and Ceres by Pluto therefore he is called by Claudian Ovid and Sylus lib. 14. the infernall Ravisher Perhibea by Axus the son of Oceanus as Europa by Jupiter and Auge by Hercules Castor and Pollux who for their valour were called Dioscuri which imports as much as the issue of Jupiter they from Messene raped the two daughters of Leucippus Phoebe and Ilaira whom they after married of Pollux and Phoebe was begot and born Mnesilius of Castor and Ilaira Anagon They with their associats Idas and Lynceas the sons of Aphareus had driven away a great prey of Cattel when they came to divide the booty a motion was made that an Ox should be divided into four according to the number of the brothers with this condition that he which could devour his quarter first should have the one halfe of the Cattell and he that had next made an end of his part should possesse the remainder This was no sooner agreed upon but Idas suddenly eat up his own portion and presently devoured that which belonged to his brother by which he claimed the whole herd and being stronger in faction then the Dioscuri drave the prey back to Meffene With which injury the two brothers incensed they levied fresh forces invaded Meffene and took from thence a much greater booty then the former the spoil being safely disposed of Castor and Pollux awaited the pursuers ambushed themselves beneath a broad spreading Oak quick-sighted Linces espying Castor shewed him to his brother whom Idas slew with an arrow whom Pollux pursuing transpierced Linceus with his javelin and unadvisedly chasing Idas was brained by him with a stone for which Jupiter stroke Idas with a thunderbolt and translated the two Princely brothers the Dioscuri into stars Of these Propert lib. 1. thus saith Non sic Leucippi succendit Castora Phoebe Pollucem cultu non Ilaira soror Fair Phoebo did not so inflame Her Castor with desire Nor Ilaira Pollux brest Deckt in her best attire Theseus rapt Ariadne daughter of King Ninus as also Hellen the daughter of Tindarus and Laeda and sister to Castor and Pollux long before Paris but returned her back unvitiated Achilles forced Diomeda the daughter of Phorbas from Lesbos as Boreas the fair Orithea daughter of Erisicthon from Athens Hercules ravished the Nymph Pyrene of Bebritia from her the Pyrenaean Mountains took name of whom Syllius Nomen Bebricia duxere à virgine colles Hospitis Alcidae crimen c. From the Behrician maid these bils took name Of her guest Hercules the fault and blame Pyrrhus surnamed Neoptolemus the sonne of Achilles and Deiadamia rapt Lanissa the Niece of Hercules Ajax the son of Telamon did the like to Tâ—â—messa of whom Horace Movit Ajacem Telamone satam Forma captivae dominum Teâ—mâ—ssae Captive Teâ—messas beauty gaz'd upon Insnar'd her Lord the son of Telamon Ajax Oilaeus ravished Cassandra Nessus the Centaur Deineira the wife of Hercules sister to Meleager and daughter to Oeneus and Althea King and Queen of Calidon Tleoptolemus stole Axiothia from Ephira a City of Peloponnessus he was the son of Hercules and Astioche he waâ— first a suitor to Hellen and came to the siege of Troy with nine ships and was after slain by the hand of King Sarpedon Hypodamia the daughter of Atracius and wife of Perithous suffered the like violence by the Centaurs being heated with Wine and Lust especially by Euritus of whom Ovid lib. 12. thus speaks Euritus Hyppodamea alii quam quisque probabat Aut poterat rapiunt Euritus rapt Hyppodame and after him the rest By his example did the like and snatcht where they lik'd best The great enmity betwixt the Grecians and Barbarians though it might seem to arise by reason of the distance of Countries and difference of manners yet most probable it is that their inveterate hate and irreconcilable malice took first originall from divers rapes committed on either part for first the Phoenician Merchants exposing their commodities to publique sale in the City of Argis when Io the Kings daughters amongst other damosels came down to the Key to take a view of what Merchandise she best liked to furnish her selfe according to her womanish fancy the Merchants being extreamly surprized with her beauty seized both her and the rest of her attendants and stowing them under hatches hoised sail and transported them into Aegypt Not long after the Cretenses awaiting the like opportunity stole away Europa the daughter of the King of the Tyrians and bore her into Creet in requitall of the former rape The Heroes of Greece next sailed in the great Argoe to Cholcos pretending their journie for the golden fleece and raped thence Medea the daughter of Areta after whom sending Embassadors into Greece to redemand his daughter they returned him answer That the barbarous Phoenicians had made no restitution nor satisfaction at all for the rape of Io neither would they for Medea After that Paris the son of Priam rather to revenge the injury done to his Aunt Hesione then for any love or affection to Spartan Hellen stole her from Lacedemon and brought her