dayes affected it for seldome doth Adulterie but goe hand in hand with Murther From the Sinne I come to the Punishment Amongst the Israelites it was first punished with Finâ—s as may be collected from the historie of Thamar who being with child by Iudas hee threatened her to the stake and had accordingly performed it had shee not shewed by manifest tokens that he himselfe was the author of her vnlawfull issue Genes 38. The Aegyptians condemned the Adulterer so deprehended to a thousand Scourges the Adulteresse to haue her Nose cut off to the greater terror of the like Delinquents Diodor. Sicul. Lib. 2. cap. 2. Coel. Lib. 21. cap. 25. By Solons Lawes a man was permitted to kill them both in the act that so found them Rauis In Iudaea they were stoned to death Plat. Lib. 9. de Legibus punisheth Adulterie with death The Locrenses by tradition from Zaluces put out the Adulterers eyes The Cumaei prostituted the Adulteresse to all men till shee died by the same sinne shee had committed Alex. ab Alex. Lib. 4. cap. 1. It was a custome amongst the antient Germans for the husband to cut off his wiues haire so apprehended to turne her out of doores naked and scourge her from Village to Village One bringing word to Diogenes That a fellow called Dydimones was taken in the Act Hee is worthie then saith hee to be hanged by his owne name for Didymi in the Greeke Tongue are Testiculi in English the Testicles or immodest parts By them therefore from whence he deriued his name and by which he had offended he would haue had him to suffer Laert. Lib. 6. Hyettus the Argiue slew one Molurus with his wife apprehending them in their vnlawfull congression Coelius Iulius Caesar repudiated his wife for no other reason but because P. Clodius was found in his house in womans Apparrell And being vrged to proceed against her hee absolutely denyed it alledging That hee had nothing whereof to accuse her but being further demanded Why then hee abandoned her societie hee answered That it was behoofefull for the wife of Caesar not onely to be cleare from the sinne it selfe but from the least suspition of crime Fulgos Lib. 6. cap. 1. Augustus banished his owne Daughter and Neece so accused into the Island called Pandateria after into Rhegium commanding at his death That their bodies being dead should not be brought neere vnto his Sepulchre To omit many Nicolaus the first Pope of that name excommunicated king Lotharius brother to Lewis the second Emperour because hee diuorced his wife Therberga and in her roome instated Gualdrada and made her Queene Besides he degraded Regnaldus Archbishop of Treuers and Gunthramus Archbishop of Collen from their Episcopall dignities for giuing their approbation to that adulterate Marriage And so much for the punishment I will conclude with the counsaile of Horace Lib. 1. Satyr 2. Desine Matronas sectarier vnde laboris Plus haurire mali est quam ex re decerpere fructum est Cease Matrons to pursue for of such paine Thou to thy selfe more mischiefe reap'st than gaine Sisters that haue murdred their Brothers AFter the vntimely death of Aydere his brother Ismael succeeded him in the Persian Empire who arriuing at Casbin was of his sister receiued with ioy and of the people with loude acclamations and beeing now possessed of the Imperiall dignitie the better as hee thought to secure himselfe hauing power answerable to his will after the barbarous custome of the Turkish tyrannie he first caused his eight younger brothers to be beheaded stretching his bloodie malice to all or the most part of his owne affinitie not suffering any to liue that had beene neere or deere to his deseased brother so that the â—â—ttie Casbin seemed to swimme in blood and ecchoed with nothing but lamentations and mournings His crueltie bred in the people both feare and hate both which were much more increased when they vnderstood hee had a purpose to alter their forme of religion who with great adoration honour their prophet Aly into the Turkish superstition his infinite and almost incredible butcheries concerne not my proiect in hand I therefore leaue them and returne to his sister whose name was Periaconcona who when this Tyrant was in the middest of his securities and the sister as hee imagined in her sisterly loue and affection vpon a night when he was in all dissolute voluptuousnesse sporting amidst his concubines she into whose trust and charge he had especially committed the safetie of his person hauing confederated with Calilchan Emirchan Pyrymahomet and Churchi Bassa the most eminent men in the Empire admitted them into the Seraglio in womans attyre by whom with her assistant hand in the middest of his luxuries hee was strangled an act though happily beneficiall to the common good yet ill becomming a sister vnlesse such an one as striued to paralel him in his vnnaturall cruelties Turkish Histor. Equall with this was that of Quendreda who after the death of Ranulphus king of Mercia his young sonne Kenelme a child of seuen yeares of age raigning in his stead whose royall estate and dignitie beeing enuied by his sister shee conspired with one Heskbertus by whose treacherous practise the king was inticed into a thick forrest there murdered and priuatly buried his bodie long missed and not found and the conspirators not so much as suspected But after as Willielm de regib li. 1. and de Pontificibus lib. 4. relates a Doue brought in her bill a scroule written in English golden letters and layde it vpon the Altar of Saint Peter which being read by an Englishman contained these words by which the place where the bodie lay was discouered At Clent in Cowbach Kenelme Keneborne lyeth vnder Thorne heaued by weaued that is in plainer English At Clent in Cowbach vnder a thorne Kenelme lyeth headlesse slaine by treason Some say it was found by a light which streamed vp into the Ayre from the place where his bodie lay couered His hearse being after borne towards his sepulchre to be a second time interred with solemne Dyrges sung by the Churchmen Quendreda sitting then in a window with a Psalter in her hand to see the funerall solemnely passe by whether in skorne of the person derision of the ceremonie or both is not certaine but she began to sing the Psalme of Te Deum laudamus backeward when instantly both her eyes dropped out of her head with a great flux of blood which stained her booke and it was after kept as a sacred relique in memorie of the diuine iudgement What need I trouble you with citing antiquities how this sinne ought to be punished on earth when we see how hatefull it is in the eyes of Heauen besides to insult vpon the bodies of the dead is monstrous and euen in things sencelesse to be punished Ausonius remembers vs of one Achillas who finding a dead mans skull in a place where three sundrie wayes
Mistresse of Pisistratus 248 Of Nitâ—tis 249 Of Bersaâ—e 250 Of the wife of Candaules 251 Rowan and Estrilda 252 The faire Lady of Norwich 253 Of Calirrhoe daughter to Boetius 256 Of the wiues of Cabbas and Phaillus c. 257 The daughters of Danaus and the sonnes of Aegyptus 259 Of Manto 260 The wife of Agetas c. 261 A Vicars daughter 262 A faire wittie Wench ibid. Of women deformed 264 The Contents of the sixt Booke inscribed Erato Treating of Chast women and Wantons A Discourse concerning Chastitie and Wantonnesse 267 Of Mary the blessed Virgin 271 Of Petronilla the daughter of S. Peter and other chast Virgins 273 Of chast Wiues and first of Penelope 276 The Historie of a woman of Casa Noua 280 Of Edeltrudis Editha and others 282 Of Wantons 284 Of common Strumpets Concubines and priuate Mistresses 285 Of such as merited the name of Honest Whores 286 Of Lais. 289 Of Glicerium alias Glicera others 293 Of Agathoclea 295 Of Cleophis 296 Callipigae Alogunes Cosmartidenes Audia c. 297 Iulia the daughter of Augustus Caesar. 298 Harlotta the mother to William the Conqueror 300 Of diuers Wantons belonging to sundry famous men Poets and others 301 Of famous Wantons 304 Of Mista and others 308 Of Wantons conuerted 312 The Contents of the seuenth Booke inscribed Polihymnia or Memorie Entreating of the Pietie of Daughters Mothers Sisters and Wiues A Discourse concerning Lyes Ieasts and wittie Sayings 313 Of Pious Daughters 319 The loue of Mothers to their Children 321 Friendship betwixt women 323 The loue of Sisters towards their Brothers 324 Of Matrimonie and Coniugall loue 327 Times forbidden in Marriage 328 Ceremonies before Marriage 329 Of Contracts 330 Of Nuptiall Dowers ibid. Of Nuptiall Gifts or Presents ibid. Of Nuptiall Ornaments Pompe Feasts and Epithalamions c. 332 A description of the Bride comming from her Chamber 333 The Bridegroomes first appearing 334 The Nuptiall Offering ibid. The Nuptiall Song 335 The entrance into their Bedchamber ibid. Sacred Auguries and Nuptiall Expiations 337 The Coniugall Loue of Women to their Husbands 339 Of Bawds 343 Of Age. 345 Of women addicted to Gluttonie or Drunkennesse 346 Of women beloued of diuerse creatures 349 Of women excellent in Painting Weauing c. 350 Of women contentious and bloudie 353 Of women strangely preserued from death and such as haue vnwillingly bin the deaths of their Parents 358 Of Clamorous women commonly called Skoulds 360 Of Tullia and her sister 362 Examples of Patience in women 363 Varietie of discourse concerning women 364 The daughters of Apollo ibid. The Syrens ibid. Women that haue dissembled their shape to good purposes or to bad 365 Women that haue changed their Sex 366 The Contents of the eight Booke inscribed Vrania Entreating of Women euery way Learned Of Poetresses and Witches A Discourse of Astrologie 369 Of famous Astrologians 370 Of women Orators that haue pleaded their owne Causes or others 373 Of women studious in Diuinitie 375 Of women excellent in Philosophie and other Learning 377 A discourse of Poetrie 383 Of women excellent in Poetrie 384 Of Minerua and others 387 Of Sapho 388 Of Cleobule Lindia other Poetesses 394 Of Telesilla Poetria 396 Of Perhilla c. ibid. A discourse of Witches 399 How the Deuill rewards his seruants 400 The wretched ends of sundry Magicians ibid. Seuerall sorts of superstitious Iugling 401 Of Cyrce Medea and other Witches remembred by the Poets 403 Of Witches transported from one place to another by the Deuill 406 Of Witches that haue either changed their owne shapes or transformed others 409 Lycantropia 410 A Piper transformed into an Asse 411 Other miraculous transformations ibid. Of shee Deuils 412 A Witch of Amsterdam 414 A Witch of Geneua 415 Examples of strange kinds of Witchcraft 416 Witches called Extasists 417 Diuerse things to be obserued in Witches 419 The Contents of the ninth Booke inscribed Calliope Entreating of Women in generall with the Punishments of the Vitious and Rewards due to the Vertuous interlaced with sundry Histories A Discourse of Death 419 Of women rauished 421 Of Handmaids Nurses Midwiues and Stepdames 424 The punishment of Incest in the sister of Leucippus 429 The punishment of Adulterie 432 Sisters that haue murthered their Brothers 434 The punishment of Fratricides 435 Of Mothers that haue slaine their Children and Wiues their Husbands ibid. Punishment due to Regicides 436 Punishment of vniust Diuorce 437 Whoredome punished 438 Loquacitie punished 439 Lying punished ibid. Periurie punished 440 Prodigalitie and Excesse punished 441 Witchcraft punished 444 Honor and Reward due to Fortitude 449 Honor and Reward due to Temperance 450 Reward due to Fertilitie or many Children illustrated in diuerse Histories 451 Of Beautie and the Reward thereof 453 A Conuertite rewarded 458 Of Cura or Care 462 Rewards due to women Philosophers Orators or Poetesses 463 FINIS TABVLAE NINE BOOKES OF VARIOVS HISTORIE ONELIE concerning Women Inscribed by the names of the nine Muses The first booke which is CLIO treating of the Goddesses Coelestiall Terrestriall Marine and Infernall BEFORE wee enter into a particular tractate of these Goddesses it shall not bee amisse to speake something of the opinions setled in sundry Nations concerning them Who were their first Adorers and Worshippers the multiplicitie of their gods and what seuerall rights and customes obseruations and Ceremonies they vsed in their Oblations and Sacrifices The Aethiopians are said to bee the most ancient and the first beginners of Diuine adoration as Diodorus is of opinion Imagining in themselues and verely beleeuing some of their gods to bee euerlasting and others to participate of a mortall and corruptible nature The Phoenicians they deliuered admirable and strange things concerning their gods and the first beginning and Creation of things aboue all others hauing in Diuine worship Dagona and Chamas The Atlantides a people of Affrica they are confident that the generation of the gods proceeded from them and the first that raigned amongst them they called Coelum which is heauen The Augitae another nation in the Affricke Continent acknowledged no other deityes than the Ghosts of such noble persons as were deceased to whose sepulchers they vsuallie repayred to demand answers of all such things wherein they doubted The Theologie of the Phrygians was not much different from theirs The Persians neither erected Statues nor Altars they worshipped the Heauen which they called Iupiter the Sunne by the name of Mithra the Moone Venus the Fire the Earth the Winds and the Water Isiodorus saith the Graecians first honoured Cecrops whom they stiled Iupiter and were the first deuisers of Images erecters of Altars and offerers of sacrifice The Iewes as Cornelius Tacitus relates apprehended but one diuine power and that onely they acknowledged The Germans of old as the same author affirmes were of opinion That the gods could not bee comprehended within walles nor haue any humane shape appropriated vnto them measuring their incomprehensible power by the magnitude of the heauens Now
many other bloody butcheries that he much better deserued the name of Gladiator than Emperour This that I haue related Iulius Capitolinus writes to Caesar Dioclesianus Were all our dissolute matrons to be cured by the like Phisicke there would no question be amongst men lesse offendors and among women fewer patients that complained of sicke stomackes Phaedima CAmbises hauing before vnnaturally slaine his brother Smerdis by the hands of his best trusted friend Praxaspes but after the death of the king for the horridnes of the fact the Regicide not daring to auouch the deed to the people least it might preiudice his owne safetie One Smerdis a Magician whose eares Cambises had before caused to be cut off tooke this aduantage to aspire to the kingdome and beeing somewhat like in fauour to the murdered Prince who was by the souldiours generally beleeued to liue it purchast him so many abettors such as were deluded with his impostures that he was generally saluted and crowned Emperour This was done whilest the greatest part of the Nobilitie were absent and none since admitted into the pallace much lesse into the presence least the Magitian might bee vnviserded and the deceit made palpable The greater feares and doubts still inuironing the Princes because Praxaspes not daring to iustifie the murder kept it still lockt in his own breast The Magitian in this interim was not onely possest of all the Kings Pallaces and Treasures but he inioyed all his wiues and concubines amongst which was a beautifull Lady called Phaedima the daughter of Otanes a man of great power amongst the Persians This Lady first of all the rest most indeered to Cambyses and now since to the counterfeit Smerdis Otanes apprehends to bee the first instrument by which to discouer the truth He therefore by a secret messenger sends to his daughter to know by whom she nightly lay whether with Smerdis the sonne of Cyrus or with some other to whom she answered that it was altogether vnknowne to her who was her bedfellow because shee yet had neither seene Smerdis the sonne of Cyrus nor that man whatsoeuer he was into whose imbraces she was commanded He then sent her word that if she her selfe could not come to the sight of him to demaund of Atossa the daughter of Cyrus and brother to Smerdis who doubtlesse could decipher him in euery true lineament To which the daughter returnes him That she was separated both from the societie and sight of Atossa for this man whatsoeuer he is as soone as hee had possest himselfe of the Empire commanded all the women into seuerall lodgings neither could they haue any discourse or intercourse at all together This answer made Otanes the more and more suspitious and desirous with any danger to finde out the truth he aduentured a third message to Phaedima to this purpose It behooues you ô daughter being descended from noble ancestours to vndergoe any hazzard especially at the request of your father when it aimes at the generall good of the common-weale and kingdome if that imposter bee not Smerdis the brother of Cambises as I much feare it becoms him neither to prostitute and defile your body nor to mocke and abuse the whole estate of Persia vnpunished therefore I charge you as you tender my loue your owne honour and the Empires weale that the next night when you are called vnto his bed you watch the time when he is soundliest asleepe and then with your fingers gently feele both the sides of his head if thou perceiuest him to haue both his eares presume then thou lodgest by the side of Smerdis the sonne of Cyrus but if on the contrary thou findest his eares wanting then thou lyest in the bosome of Smerdis that base Magitian To this she replyed by letter Though I truely apprehend the danger should I be taken seeking of such things as hee perhaps knowes wanting which can be no lesse than death yet for your loue and the common good I will vndergoe the perill and with this briefe answer gaue satisfaction to her father But greater content he receiued from her when hauing discouered and layd open whatsoeuer her father suspected she sent him a faithfull relation of euery circumstance These things discouered by Phaedima Otanes makes a coniuration amongst the Princes all vowing the supplantation of this vsurper who in the interim the more to confirme the people in their errour he sent to Praxaspes promising him honours and treasures but to pronounce him once more before the people to bee the true and legitimate heire This charge Praxaspes vndertakes the multitude from all parts of the cittie were by the Magi assembled and he mounted vnto the toppe of an high Turret the better to be heard silence being made and attention prepared Praxaspes begins his oration in which hee remembers all the noble acts of Cyrus with the dignitie of his blood and progenie and passing ouer Cambises to come to speake of his brother Smerdis contrary to the expectation of the Magitian with teares began to commemorate the death of the Prince murdered and made away by his infortunate hand Then told them whom in his stead they had voyced into the Sacred Empire namely a groome and one of low and base descent one that for cousenages and forgeries had lost his eares a Magitian a Coniurer one that had long deluded them with his diuelish sorceries a slaue not worthy at all to liue much lesse to raigne and gouerne so noble a people and as a further confirmation that dying men speake true these words were no sooner ended but he casts himselfe off from the toppe of the Turret and slew himselfe After this the Pallace was assaulted by the Princesse the imposter slaine and all his adherents put to massacre Of the sequel of the history the succession of Darius c. you may further reade in Herodotus But concerning Phaedima onely for whose sake I haue introduced the rest I know not whether I haue indirectly brought her into this catalogue because she was so noble a meanes of so notable a discouerie yet considering she was one of the wiues of Cambises and he being dead so suddenly changing her affection to another and after being inioyed by him of what condition soeuer to betray him all these circumstances considered I giue hir free liberty to bee ranked amongst the rest Begum Queene of Persia. ABdilcherai a braue and valiant Prince of Tartaria taken prisoner by Emirhamze Mirize eldest sonne to the king of Persia in a battaile betwixt the Persians and Tartarians was sent to the king into Casbia where his captiuity in regard of his birth and valour was so easie that hee rather seemed a denison than a forreiner a Prince of the blood than a captiue hee not long soiourned there but he insinuated himselfe into the loue of the Queene Begum wife to the then king of Persia who spent their time together in such publike daliance not able to containe themselues within
the hands of Achilles or as the most will haue it by Neoptolimus shee was the first that euer fought with Pollaxe or wore a Target made like an halfe Moone therefore she is by the Poets called Peltigera and Securigera as bearing a Target or bearing a Poleaxe Therefore Ouid in his Epistle of Phaedra Prima securigeras inter virtute puellas And Virgill in his first booke of Aeneid Ducit Amazonidum lunatis Agmina peltis Penthisilaea fureus medijsque in millibus ardet Penthisilaea mad leades foorth Her Amazonian traine Arm'd with their Mooned shieldes and fights Mid'st thousands on the plaine These Amazons indured till the time of Alexander and though Isiodorus Eth. 14. saith that Alexander the Great quite subuerted their nation yet Trogus Iustine Q. Curtius and others are of a contrarie opinion and affirme that when Alexander sent his Embassadors to demand of them tribute otherwise his purpose was to inuade their territories their queene Minithra or as some writers terme her Thalestris returned him answer after this manner It is great wonder of thy small iudgement ô king that thou hast a desire to wage warre against women if thou being so great a conqueror shouldest be vanquished by vs all thy former honours were blemished and thou perpetually branded with shame and infamie but if our gods being angerie with vs should deliuer vs vp into thy mercie what addition is it to thine honor to haue had the masterie ouer weake women King Alexander it is sayd was pleased with this answere granting them freedome and sayd Women ought to be courted with faire words and flatterie and not with rough steele and hostilâ—tie After this she sent to the king desiring to haue his companie as longing to haue issue by him to succeed the father in magnanimitie and vertue to which hee assented Some write she stayd with him in wonderous familiaritie fourteene dayes but Trogus in his second booke sayth fortie dayes and when she found her selfe with child by him tooke her leaue and departed into her owne countrey Virgill amongst these Amazonians numbers Harpalice Aenid lib. 1. Vel qualis equos Therissa fatigat Harpalice Such as the Thracian Harpalice was That horses tired Valerius Flaccus lib. 6. speakes of one Harpe Qua pelta vacat iamque ibat in Harpea Hee aym'd at Harpe where her shield lay void These Amazons were by the Scythians called Aeorpata which is as much as Viricidae or man-killers For Aeor signifies Vir a man and Pata Occidere to kill Their habits and manners Curtius thus describes lib. 5. de gestis Alexandri Their garments couer not their bodies round their right side is still bare towards their brest their vpper roabe which is buckled or buttoned aboue descends no lower than the knee one of their brests they reserue safe and vntouched with which they giue sucke to their infants the right brest they burne off that with the more facilitie they may draw a Bowe thrill a Dart or charge a Launce Stephanus Byzantius writes that they are called by the Greekes Sauropatidae because they are said to feede vpon Lysards which in their language they call Saurae Herodotus writes of them many things needlesse here to insert onely one is worth the obseruation To incourage their valour and that there should be no coward amongst them they haue a law That no Virgin shall be capable of a husband or enter into familiar congresse with man before she hath brought from the field the head of an enemie slaine with her owne hand which hath beene the cause that so many of them haue died old wrinkled beldames that neuer knew what belonged to the interchange of carnall societie Of other Scythian women that had a purpose it seemes in some kind to immitate these Amazons it is thus remembred by Strabo and others The warlike Scythians in their third Asian expedition being absent from their wiues the space of seuen yeares they supposing their husbands rather to haue beene defeated and lost than deteined with the tedioufnesse of so long and lingring a warre married themselues to their slaues and seruants such as were onely left at home to keepe their heards flockes and other cattell The Scythians after the expiration of their warre returning into their countrie were opposed by their owne vassalls and repelled from their territories as strangers and inuaders and not such as came to repossesse their owne wiues and fields after many skermishes and conflicts the victorie still remaining doubtfull and incertaine the Scythians were aduised to change their manner of fight and because their opposition was against the basest of slaues not the noblest of enemies therefore to suit their weapons according to the persons and laying by the noble armes of a souldier to encounter them not with weapons but with whips not with steele but with scourges and other like instruments of the terrors of base and seruile feare This counsell was generally approoued and followed so that the next time their slaues affronted them in battaile they met them with the commanding lookes of maisters not of equall enemies and shaking these whips and scourges with the sight therof their seruants were so terrified that instantly they betooke themselues to seruile and ignoble flight conquering them as slaues whom they could scarce oppose as enemies all such of them as they tooke they put to tortures and death Their wiues knowing themselues guiltie both of adulterie to their beds and treason to their liues some slew themselues with the sword others strangled themselues with the halter all in conclusion brauely and resolutely with selfe hands finished their owne liues leauing their husbands lustie widdowers with free libertie to make choice of honester wiues After this accident the Scythians had peace euen to the time of king Lanthinus Higinus addes vnto the number of those Amazons these following Ociale Dioxippe Iphinome Xanthe Hypothoe Orthrepte or Otrere Antioche Laomache Glauce Agaue Theseis Climene and Polidora Calaber besides these reckons vp twelue but by diuerse and doubtfull names Of the name of these Amazons Ouid writes in the latter end of his second booke de Arte amandi hauing writ his two first bookes wherein he hath ingeniously proposed all the wayes plots and stratagems by which men may captiuate women to their wishes and attract them to their desires as if he had done his worke as worthily as wittingly which indeede he hath he thus insultingly concludes Me vatem celebrate viri mihi dicite laudes Cantetur toto nomen in orbe meum c. Call me your Poet crowne my head with Bayes And let the whole world descant on my praise I gaue you armes god Vulcan gaue no more To Thetis sonne conquer as he before And he that shall his Amazon subdue Strooke with the darts he from my quiuer drew Vpon his warlike spoyles thus let him write Naso my master taught me first to fight Behold yong Wenches likewise trace my skill They are the next
continued their priuate meetings in so much that custome bred impudence and suspition certaine proofe of their incestuous consocietie At length it comes to the eare of him that had contracted her with attestation of the truth thereof he though he feared the greatnesse of Leucippus his knowne valor and popular fauour yet his spirit could not brooke so vnspeakeable an iniurie he acquaints this nouell to his father and certaine noble friends of his amongst whom it was concluded by all iointly to informe Xanthius of his daughters inchastitie but for their owne safetie knowing the potencie of Leucippus to conceale the name of the adulterer They repaire to him and informe him of the businesse intreating his secrecie till he be himselfe eye-witnesse of his daughters dishonor The father at this newes is inraged but armes himselfe with inforced patience much longing to know that libidonous wretch who had dishonoured his familie The incestuous meeting was watcht and discouered and word brought to Xanthius that now was the time to apprehend them he calls for lights and attended with her accusers purposes to inuade the chamber great noise is made she affrighted rises and before they came to the doore opens it slips by thinking to flie and hide her selfe the father supposing her to be the adulterer pursues her and pierceth her through with his sword By this Leucippus starts vp and with his sword in his hand hearing her last dying shreeke prepares himselfe for her rescue he is incountred by his father whom in the distraction of the sodaine affright he vnaduisedly assaulted and slew The mother disturbed with the noise hasts to the place where she heard the tumult was and seeing her husband and daughter slaine betwixt the horridnesse of the sight and apprehension of her owne guilt fell downe sodainely and expired And these are the lamentable effects of Incest the father to kill his owne daughter the sonne his father and the mother the cause of all to die sodainely without the least thought of repentance These things so infortunately happening Leucippus caused their bodies to be nobly interred when forsaking his fathers house in Thessalie he made an expedition into Creet but being repulst from thence by the inhabitants he made for Ephesia where he tooke perforce a citie in the prouince of Cretinaea and after inhabited it It is said that Leucophria the daughter of Mandrolita grew innamored of him and betrayed the citie into his hands who after maried her and was ruler thereof This historie is remembred by Pâ—rthenius de Amatorijs cap. 5. Of incest betwixt the father and daughter Ouid lib. Metam speakes of whose verses with what modestie I can I will giue you the English of and so end with this argument Accipit obscoeno genitor suà ◠viscera lecto Virgeneosque metus leâ—â—t Hortaturque timentem c. Into his obscene bed the father takes His trembling daughter much of her he makes Who pants beneath him ' bids her not to feare But be of bolder courage and take cheare Full of her fathers sinnes loath to betray The horrid act by night she steales away Fraught that came thither emptie for her wombe Is now of impious incest made the Tombe Next to the sinne I will place the punishment Iacob blessing his children said to Reuben Thou shalt be poured out like water thine excellencie is gone because thou hast defiled thy fathers bed Genes 49. Absolon went in to his fathers concubines and soone after was slaine by the hand of Ioab Kings 2.16 18. Of later times I will instance one Nicolaus Estensis Marquesse of Ferrara who hauing notice that his sonne Hugo a toward and hopefull young gentleman had borne himselfe more wantonly than reuerence and modestie required in the presence of his stepmother Parisia of the familie of Malatestae and not willing rashly either to reprooue or accuse them he watcht them so narrowly by his intelligencers and spies that he had certaine and infallible testimonie of their incestuous meetings for which setting aside all coniugall affection or paternall pittie he caused them first to be cast in strict and close prison and after vpon more mature deliberation to be arraigned where they were conuicted and lost their heads with all the rest that had beene conscious of the act Fulgos. lib. 6. cap. 1. I will borrow leaue to insert heare one remarkable punishment done vpon a Iew at Prague in Bohemia in the yeare 1530 who being taken in adulterie with a Christian woman they compelled him to stand in a tonne pitched within they boared a hole in which they forced him to put in that part with which he had offended iust by him was placed a knife without edge blunted for the purpose and there he stood loose saue fastened by the part aforesaid fire being giuen he was forced through the torment of the heat with that edgelesse knife to cut away that pars virilis and ran away bleeding after whom they set fierce mastifes who worried him to death and after tore him to peeces Lychost in Theatro Human. vitae Of Adulterie THe wife of Argento-Coxus Calidonius being tanted by Iulia Augusta because it was the custome of their countrie for the noble men and women promiscuously to mixe themselues together and to make their appointments openly without blushing to her thus answered I much commend the custome of our countrie aboue yours we Calidonians desire consocietie with our equals in birth and qualitie to satisfie the necessarie duties belonging to loue and affections and that publickely when your Roman Ladies professing outward temperance and chastititie prostitute your selues priuatly to your base groomes and vassals The same is reported to haue beene spoken by a Brittish woman Dion Nicaeus Xiphilin in vita seueri Her words were verified as in many others that I could heere produce so in the French Queene Fredigunda who though she infinitly flattered the King Chilpericus her husband outwardly yet she inwardly affected one Laudricus to whom she communicated her person and honour these in the Kings absence were scarce to be found asunder in so much that Chilperick himselfe could not more freely command her person by his power than the other by his loose and intemperate effeminacies It happened the king being on hunting and leauing the Chase before his houre stole suddainely vpon his Queene and comming behind her as shee was taking her Prospect into the Garden sportingly toucht her vpon the head with the Switch hee had then in his hand without speaking shee not dreaming of the kings so suddaine returne and thinking it had beene her priuate friend without looking backe Well sweet-heart Landricus saith shee you will neuer leaue this fooling and turning towards him withall discouered the king who onely biting his lippe departed in silence Shee fearing the kings distaste and consequently his reuenge sends for Landricus and as if the king had beene the offendor betwixt them two conspired his death and within few
at once shee thus spake to them If not in Art yet Berta was before you in time I thanke your loue and commend your skill but shee hath preuented you of the blessing Which saying of hers is still remembred as a Prouerbe in all that Countrey for when any thing is done vnseasonably or not in due time they say Mon e pui quel tempo che Berta filaua i. You come not in the time when Berta spunne or as our English Prouerbe is You come a day after the Faire Bernard Scardeonus Lib. 3. Histor. Patau In which the Empresse expressed great wisedome who as shee shewed a rare bountie in which men and women come neerest the Gods who are the free giuers of all good things so shee knew how to dispose it namely to heâ— that came to tender her loue not such as auariciously presented their Offerings meerely for lucre and benefit for such come but like faire weather after Haruest And how could the Empresses Vertue bee better rewarded than to haue her Bountie outlast her Death and her Wisedome suruiue her Dust Touching Charitie Bruson Lib. 2. cap. 21. relates That a poore begger desiring an almes of Lacon hee thus answered himâ— If I giue thee any thingâ— I make thee a greater begger and thoâ—â— mayest curse him that first gaue thee for it was hee that made thee one Amongst the Lacedemoniansâ— nothing was more shamefull than to begge being an industrious Nation hating slouth and contenting themselues with little Notwithstanding Charitie is commendable in all and reckoned amongst the best Theologicall Vertues neyther is it any fault in such if their goodnesse and bountie be not a meanes to encourage idlenesse and slouth in bad people who make a pretence of want and penurie therefore commendable it is in any man that is apt to giue to know vpon whom hee doth bestow King Archelaus being at a banquet where such as hee vouchsafed to set at his Table were wonderous pleasant about him amongst others one that had great familiaritie with him demanunded as a gift a great standing bole which the king had then in his hand which hee had no sooner spoken but the king called to one that waited at his elbow to whom hee sayd Hold take this bole and beare it to the Poet Euripides and tell him I bestow it on him as my free gift The other demanding the reason thereof Archelaus answered Thou indeede art onely worthie to aske but not receiue but Euripides is worthie to receiue without asking In which hee nothing abated of his kingly bountie onely hee apprehended how most worthily to dispose it Plutarch in Regum Apotheg But how this Charitie in women is rewarded I will onely instance Tabitha spoken of in the Acts who beeing dead was thought worthie for her former Charitie in relieuing Widowes and Orphants to haue Peters knees and prayers to restore her againe to life Now of the reward of religious Pietie in which many Matrons and godly martyred Virgins amongst such as haue suffered strange deaths may be included as some by the Sword some by Fire others suffocated by Smoake stifled in Iakes shot with Arrowes tortured vpon Wheeles scourged with Whips seared with Irons boyled in Caldrons c. their Crownes are glorie their Rewards neither to bee expressed by penne tongue or apprehension of man Loosenesse of life first conuerted and the conuersion rewarded in a home-bred Historie A Ciuile gentleman within memorie in the heat of Summer hauing beene walking alone in the fields contemplating with himselfe and returning backe not the same way hee went out but through another part of the Suburbes to which hee was a meere stranger and finding himselfe extreamely athirst hee stepped into the first house that fairelyest offered it selfe to him and called for a Cup of Beere seating himselfe in the first Roome next to the street He had not well wiped the sweat from his face with his Handkerchiefe but two or three young Wenches came skittishly in and out the Roome who seeing him a man of fashion and therefore likely to be of meanes they thought to make of him some bootie being it seemes set on by the Grandam of the house for as it prooued it was a common Brothelhouse The youngest and handsomest amongst the rest was put vpon him who entreated him not to be seene below where euerie Porter Câ—â—â—an and common fellow came to drinke but to take a more conuenient â—nd retyred Roome The gentleman suspecting the place as it was indeed to be no better than it should be and being willing to see some fashions tooke her gentle proffer and went with her vp the stayres where they two being alone and a Bed in the Roome Beere being brought vp shee began to offer him more than common courtesie being so farre from modestie that shee almost prostituted her selfe vnto him Which hee apprehending asked her in plaine tearmes If these were not meere prouocations to incite him to Lust which shee as plainely confessed To whom he replyed That since it was so he was most willing to accept of her kind proffer onely for modestie sake hee desired her to shew him into a darker roome To which she assented and leads him from one place to another but hee still told her that none of all these was darke enough insomuch that shee began at length somewhat to distaste him because in all that time hee had not made vnto her any friendly proffer At length shee brought him into a close narrow roome with nothing but a Loope-hole for Light and told him Sir vnlesse you purpose to goe into the Coale-house this is the darkest place in the house How doth this please you To whom he answered Vnlesse thou strumpet thou canst bring me to a place so palpably tenebrious into which the eyes of Heauen cannot pierce and see me thou canst not persuade me to an act so detestable before God and good men For cannot he that sees into the hearts and reines of all behold vs here in our wickednesse And further proceeding told her the heynousnesse of her sinne towards God that her prostitution was in sight of him and his Angels and the euerlasting punishment thereto belonging Or if irreligious as shee was shee held these but Dreames and Fables hee bad her consider her estate in this world and what her best could be a Whore the name odious the profession abhominable despised of the indifferent but quite abandoned of those confirmed in Vertue That shee was in her selfe but a meere Leprosie to destroy her selfe and infect others a Sinke of Sinne and Diseases Or if her extraordinarie good fortune were such to escape the Spittle and the Surgeon yet shee was a continuall vasall to euerie Constable and Beadle neuer certaine of her Lodging if not in the Stocks in the Cage but the chiefest of her hopes in Bridewell c. To conclude hee read vnto her so strict and austere a Lecture concerning her base and debosht life that
fire Vpon whose smooth brow cannot â—it a frowne She can make flints seeme feathers bare boords downe I will now trouble thy patience gentle Reader with a discourse that hath in it more mirth than murther and more sport than spight and yet a touch of both A mad fellow newly married had onely one yong child by his wife of some quarter old whom he deerely and tenderly loued as being his first but he was much giuen to good fellowship and shee altogether addicted to sparing and good huswiferie still when he vsed to come merrie from the tauerne where he had beene frollicke with his boone companions she being as sparing of his purse as prodigall of her tongue for she was little better than a skold would often vpbraide him with his expences that what hee wasted at the Tauerne were better bestowed at home that he spent both his mony time and that being so often drunke it was preiudiciall both to his bodie and estate with many such matron-like exhortations but alwaies concluding her admonitions with a vow That if euer he came home againe in that pickle shee would happen what could come fling the child into the moat for the house was moated about It hapned about some two daies after that he reuelling till late in the euening in a cold frostie winters night and she hauing intelligence by her scouts where he was then drinking and making no question but he would come home flustred she commanded her maide to conueigh the infant to the further part of the house and to wrap the cat in the blankets and put it in the cradle and there to sit and rocke it presently home comes the husband shee falls to her old lesson and beginnes to quarrell with him and he with her Ill words begot worse and much leaud language there was betwixt them when the woman on the sudden stepping to the cradle hauing spyde her aduantage I haue long sayth she threatned a mischiefe and that reuenge I cannot worke on thee come dogs come diuells I will inflict vpon the brat in the cradle and instantly snatching it vp in her armes ran with it to the moate side and flung it into the middle of the water which the poore affrighted man following her and seeing leauing to pursue her and crying saue the child ô saue the child in that bitter cold night leapt vp to the elbowes in water and waded till hee brought out the mantell and with much paine comming to the shore and still crying alas my poore child opened the cloathes at length the frighted cat crying mewe being at libertie leapt from betwixt his armes and ran away the husband was both amased and vexed the woman laught at her reuenge and retyred her selfe and the poore man was glad to reconcile the difference before she would yeeld to allow him either fire or dry linnen Considering this me thinkes it was not amisse answered of a gentleman who being persuaded by a friend of his not to marry with such a gentlewoman to whom hee was a suitor his reasons alleadged were because she had no quicke and voluble tongue neither was she of any fine witte or capacitie to whom he instantly replyde I desire to haue a woman to bee my wife that shall haue no more tongue to answer mee to a question than yea or nay or to haue more wit than to distinguish her husbands bed from another mans Another woman hauing a husband who customably came drunke home and shrinking from his stoole or chaire would oft fall vpon the floore and there lie along stil when she cald him to bed he would answer her Let me alone the tenement is mine owne and I may lye where I list so long as I pay rent for the house Some few nights after comming home in the like tune and sitting asleepe in a chaire before the chimney his wife being gone to bed presently the man falls into the fire the maide cryes out to her Mistresse Oh mistresse my master is falne and lyes in the fire euen in the midst of all the fire shee lay still and turning her on the other side sayd so long as hee payes rent for the house he may lye where he please But to more serious businesse for I haue now done sporting Of English Viragoes And of Ioan de Pucil OF Guendoline the wife of king Locrine and daughter to Corinaeus duke of Cornwall I shall take more occasion to speake at large in the discourse of the beautifull Estreld Elphleda was sister to king Edward before the conquest sirnamed the fourth she was wife to Etheldredus duke of Mercia who assisted her husband in the restoring of the citie of Chester after it had beene destroyed and demolished by the Danes encompassing it with new walls he was generall to the king in all his expeditions against the Danes in the last battaile that he fought against them at a place cald Toten Hall in Staffordshire hee gaue them a mightie auerthrow but a greater at Wooddensfield where were slaine two kings two Earles and of the souldiours many thousands which were of the Danes of Northumberland In this battaile were the king and Elphleda both present Soone after this victorie Etheldredus dyed and she gouerned many yeres after him in all Mercia or middle England except in the two cities of London and Oxford which the king her brother reserued to himself She builded many cities and townes and repayred others as Thatarne Brimsbury the bridge vpon Seuerne Tamwoorth Liechfield Stafford Warwicke Shrewsbury Watrisbury Edisbury in the Forrest besides Chester which is since vttery defaced and destroied Also shee built a cittie and a castle in the North part of Mercia which then was cald Runcofan and after Runcorn Thus farre Ranulphus William de regib with others giue her this noble character This Lady hauing once assayde the throwes of childbirth would neuer after bee drawne to haue any carnall societie with her husband alleaging that it was not sitting or seemely for a woman of her degree being a princesse a kings daughter and a kings sister to inure herselfe to such wanton embraces wherof should ensue so great paine and sorrow She tamed the Welchmen and in many conflicts chased the Danes after whose death the king tooke the prouince of Mercia intirely into his owne hand disinherited her daughter Elswina whom he led with him into West-Saxon Henricus lib. 5. hath left this Epitaph as a memoriall ouer her Tombe Oh Elphlede mightie both in strength and mind The dread of men and victoresse of thy kind Nature hath done as much as nature can To make thee maide but goodnesse makes the man Yet pittie thou should'st change ought saue thy name Thou art so good a woman and thy fame In that growes greater and more worthie when Thy feminine valour much out-shineth when Great Caesars acts thy noble deeds excell So sleepe in peace Virago maide farewell Much to this purpose hath Treuisa expressed
these verses in old English Maud the daughter of Henrie the first was married to Henrie the fourth Emperour of that name after the death of her husband she bore the title of Maud the Empresse her father in his life time swore all the nobilitie to her succession but he being dead many fell from their oathes of alleagence adhering to Stephan Earle of Bulleine who by the sisters side was neaphue to the deseased king He notwithstanding he had before sworne to her homage caused himselfe to be crowned at London vpon a Saint Stephens day by William Archbishop of Canturburie one that had before past his oath of alleagence to the Emperesse Much combustion there was in England in those dayes betwixt Maude and Stephan and many battails fought in which the successe was doubtfull the victorie sometimes inclining to the one and againe to the other the circumstances rather would become a large Chronicle than a short tractat I will therefore come to that which sorts best with my present purpose This lady tooke the king in battaile and kept him prisoner at Bristoll from Candlemas day to Hollyrood day in haruest for which victorie the people came against her with procession which was approoued by the Popes legate From Bristoll she came to Winchester thence to Wilton to Oxford to Reding and Saint Albons all the people acknowledging her their queene and soueraigne excepting the Kentishmen onely shee came thence to London to settle the estate of the land whether came the wife of king Stephan for her husbands deliuerie vpon condition that Stephan should surrender the kingdome vp entirely into her hands and betake himselfe euer after to a sequestred and religious life But to this motion the Emperesse would by no meanes assent the Cittisens likewise intreated her that they might vse the fauourable lawes of S. Edward and not those strict and seuere statutes and ordinances deuised established by King Henry her father neither to this would the bold-spirited Lady agree For which the people began to withdraw their affections from her purposed to haue surprised her of which she hauing notice left all her houshold proâ—ision and furniture and secretly conueighed her selfe to Oxford where she attended her forces who were by this time dispersed and diuided But taking with her her Vncle Dauid king of Scots shee came before Winchester laying a strong siege to the bishops tower with was defended by the brother of king Stephan But now obserue another female Warrior The wife of the imprisoned King being denyed his freedome now takes both spirit armes and associated with one William Iperus came with such a thundring terror to rayse the siege that the hardie Empresse to giue way to her present furie was from strength forced to flye to stratageme for finding her powers too weake to withstand the incensed Queene she counterfeited her selfe dead and as a Corse caused her bodie to be conueyed to the citie of Glocester and by this meanes escaped But Robert her brother was there taken prisoner and committed to safe custodie Then the Queene imployed herselfe on the one part for the release of her husband and the Empresse on the other for the enfranchisement of her brother at length after long debating of the businesse it was determined by the Mediators on both sides that Stephan should be restored to the Kingdome and Duke Robert to his Lordship and Earledome and both as they had disturbed the peace of the Land so now to establish it To this the Earle would not assent so that all that yeere there was nothing but spoyle manslaughter direptions and all manner of violence robbing of the rich and oppression of the poore The King vpon Holy-Rood day was released and besieged the Empresse in the citie of Oxford from Michaelmas day to mid-Winter where being oppressed with famine she tooke the aduantage of the Frost and Snow and attyring her selfe all in white escaped ouer the Fennes and came to the castle of Wallingford And so much shall suffice to expresse the magnanimitie and warlike dispositions of two noble and heroicke English Ladies A French Ladie comes now in my way of whom I will giue you a short character In the minoritie of Henry the sixt when France which was once in his entire possession was there gouerned by our English Regents the famous duke of Bedford and others Charles the Dolphin styled after by the name of Charles the seuenth being a Lord wihout land yet at that time maintaining what hostilitie he was able whilest the English forraged through France at their will and commanded in all places at their owne pleasure the French in vtter despaire of shaking off the English yoake there arose in those desperate times one Ioane Are the daughter of Iames Are and his wife Isabel borne in Damprin This Iames was by profession a Shepheard and none of the richest Ioane whom the French afterwards called Ioane de Pucil whilest she was a yong maid and kept her fathers sheepe would report to diuerse That our blessed Ladie S. Agnes and S. Katherine had appeared vnto her and told her That by her meanes France should regayne her pristine libertie and cast off the yoke of English seruitude This comming to the eare of one Peter Bradicourt an eminent captaine then belonging to Charles the Dolphin hee vsed meanes that she should be sent to haue conference with his maister who soiourned then in Chynon in his lowest of deiection and despaire of hope supplie or comfort In her iourney thither shee came to a towne called Faire-boys where taking vp her Inne a place which shee had neuer before seene shee desired a souldier to goe to a secret by-corner where was a heape of old yron and from thence to bring her a Sword The souldier went according to her direction and searching the place amidst a great quantitie of old tongs shouels hand-yrons and broken horse-shooes found a faire bright sword with fiue Flower-delyces vpon either side engrauen This Sword with which she after committed many slaughters vpon the English shee gyrt to her and so proceeded to Chynon to giue the Dolphin meeting Being there arriued Charles concealed himselfe amongst many others whilest she was brought into a faire long gallerie where he had appointed another to take his place and to assume his person she looking vpon him gaue him neither respect nor reueâ—ence but sought out Charles among all the other in that assemblie and pickt him from amongst the rest to whom making a low obeysance she told him that to him only was her businesse The Dolphin at this was amased the rather because she had neuer before seene him and was somewhat comforted by reason that she shewed cheare and alacritie in her countenance they had together long and priuat conference and shortly after she had an armie giuen to bee disposed and â—irected by her Shee then bespake her selfe armour Cap a Pe bearing a white Ensigne displaide before her in which was