the best How much then is it to be underprized when it is contaminated and spotted with lust and unlawfull prostitution since it is a maxime That things common are so far from begetting appetite and affection that they rather engender the seeds of contempt and hatred for how should any thing festered and corrupt please the eie or that wich is rotten and unsound give content unto the palate But to return to my first Apology needfull it is that to the Tragick Muse Melpomene I should suit Tragicall history wherein if any women be personated for Inconstancy Intemperance Adultery Incest or any such vile and abominable action she hath in that disgraced her selfe not her sex as stretching no further then the delinquent It any man object and say they are bad presidents to him I answer they are examples of horror to be eschewed not imitated which in their own natures beget a loathing not liking and for placing them next to and so neer to the women Illustrious I will excuse my selfe in this short Epigram A skilfull Painter having limm'd a face Surpassing faire of admirable feature Sets by the same to give it the more grace The pourtrait of some foule deformed creature No doubt as much art in the last is shown As in the first albeit that pleaseth most How ever to the workman 't is 〈…〉 They both to him arâ— of likâ— care and cost 'T is so with me I have set before you many Bâ—ave Ladies of theâ— all to take full view Pleasing to th' eie 〈…〉 Whom a more willing workman 〈…〉 Should these appeare rough hew'd or of bad savour And whose aspect cannot so well 〈◊〉 you Perhaps the next of more delight 〈…〉 And grinding other colours I 'll preâ—â—â— you A smoother piece and liâ—â—â— if I be able A fairer face in a more curious fable Of women incestuous and first of Q. Semiramis IT is questioned by some authors concerning this potent and mighty Queen whether she be more renowned for her brave and magnanimous exploits or notorious for her ignoble and infamous actions some willing that for her vertues sake her vices should be utterly buried in oblivion others in regard of what was bad in her that nothing good or commendable might of her to posterity be remembred I purpose to give you a taste of both Some say she was called Semiramis of the birds named Semiramides by which it is said she was fostered in her infancy but that bearing no shew of truth others derive her denomination from Samir which in the Hebrew and the Syrian dialect imports as much as Adamant because her noble and brave atchievements attracted the hearts of that barbarous rude Nation to her admiration and love as the Adamant drawes iron Plutarch in libro Amator saith she was a damosell of Syria and concubine to the King of that Country with whose love Ninus being after besotted took her to his wife of whom she had that predominance that though before he had conquered all the Eastern parts subjugated his neighbour Kings and subdued Zoroastres Monarch of the Bactrians he that was the first inventor of the Art magick that devised the principles of Astrology and found out the true motions of the stars notwithstanding she so far prevailed with him that for one day she might sit in the roiall throne and for that space have the regall jurisdiction in her full power with intire command over the whole Empire In the morning of her soveraignty she imposed upon the subjects such modest and mild injunctions that ere noon she had insinuated into their bosomes so far that she found them so pliable and conformable to her desires that she presumed there was nothing so difficult and impossible which for her sake they would not boldly and resolutely undertake Upon this presumption she stretched her usurpation so far that she commanded them to lay hands upon the King her husband before night and committing him to prison caused him within few daies to be put to death She had by Ninus one son called Ninus junior who should have succeeded his father that for fifty two years space had swaied the Babylonian Empire but whether in her own ambition desirous of the principality or finding her son too effeminate to be Lord over so great a people and uncertaine withall whether so many men and of so many sundry Nations would submit themselves to the soveraignty of a woman all these suppositions being doubtfull certain it is that instead of the mother of Ninus she assumed the person of Ninus her son changing her womans shape into the habit of a mans for they were of one stature proportioned in lineaments alike semblant in voice and in all accomplements difficultly to be distinguished insomuch that never mother and child could have more true resemblance having therefore lull'd her son in all effeminacy and atâ—iâ—â—d him in her Queen-like vesture the better to shadow her own proportion she suited her selfe in long garments and commanded all her subjects to do the like which habit hath been amongst the Assyrians Bactrians and Babylonians in use even to this day Upon her head she wore a Turbaâ—â— oâ— Myter such as none but Kings used to adorn their heads with so that in the beginning she was known for no other then the Prince in whose name she accomplisht many notable and noble atchievements at whose amplitude Envy and Emulation stood amazed confessing her in all her attempts supereminent neither did her heroick actions any way derogate from the honour of the Empire but rather add to the splendour thereof admiration in regard a woman had not only excelled all of her sex in valour but might claim a just priority over men She built the mighty City Babylon and the stately wals reckoned amongst the seven wonders She not only conquered all Aethiopia and made that Kingdome to her state tributary but invaded India being the first that durst attemptie and saving her no 〈…〉 but Alexander who was the second and the last Thus 〈◊〉 Justin out of the history of Trogus Pompeius Berosus affiâ—ms as mâ—ch these be his words Nemo unquam huic seminae comparandus est virorum tanta in ejus vita scribuntur cum ad vituperationem tum maxime ad laudem No man was ever to be compared with this woman such great things have been written of her partly to her disgrace but chiefly to her praise He proceeds further She was the fourth that reigned in Assyria for so it is approved Nimâ—oâ— was the first being father to Belus and grand-father to Ninus which Ninus was the first that made war upon his neighbours and usurped their dominions in whom began to cease the Golden world whom his widdow Queen succeeded counterfeiting the shape of man She was after slain by her sonne Ninus the second of that name who as Eusebius writes after her death swai'd the Scepter thirty and eight years One memorable thing is recorded of her by Diodorus S. culuâ— lib. 3.
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
sister received with joy and of the people with loud acclamations and being now possessed of the Imperiall dignity the better as he thought to secure himselfe having power answerable to his will after the barbarous custome of the Turkish tyranny he first caused his eight younger brothers to be beheaded stretching his bloody malice to all or the most part of his own affinity not suffering any to live that had been neer or deer to his deceased brother so that the City Casbin seemed to swim in blood and ecchoed with nothing but lamentations and mournings His cruelty bred in the people both fear and hate both which were much more increased when they understood he had a purpose to alter their form of religion who with great adoration honour their prophet Aly into the Turkish superstition his infinite and almost incredible butcheries concern not my project in hand I therefor leave them and return to his sister whose name was Periaconcona who when this Tyrant was in the middest of his securities and the sister as he imagined in her sisterly love and affection upon a night when he was in all dissolute voluptuousnesse sporting amidst his concubines she into whose trust and charge he had especially committed the safety of his person having confederated with Calilchan Emirchan Pyrymahomet and Churchi Bassa the most eminent men in the Empire admitted them into the Seraglio in womans attire by whom with her assistant hand in the midst of his luxuries he was strangled an act though happily beneficiall to the common good yet ill becomming a sister unlesse such an one as strived to parallel him in his unnaturall cruelties Turkish History Equall with this was that of Quendreda who after the death of Ranulphus King of Mercia his young son Kenelm a child of seven years of age raigning in his stead whose roiall estate and dignity being envied by his sister she conspired with one Heskbertus by whose treacherous practise the King was enticed into a thick forrest and there murdered and privately buried his body long missed and not found and the conspirators not so much as suspected But after as Willielm de regib lib. 1. and de Pontificibus lib. 4. relates a Dove brought in her bill a scrole written in English golden letters and laid it upon the Altar of Saint Peter which being read by an Englishman contained these words by which the place where the body lay was discovered At Clent in Cowbach Kenelme Keneborn lieth under Thorn heaved by weaved that is in plainer English At Clent in Cowbach under a thorn Kenelm lieth headlesse slain by treason Some say it was found by a light which streamed up into the air from the place where his body lay covered His hearse being after borne towards his sepulchre to be a second time interred with solemn Dirges sung by the Churchmen Quendreda sitting then in a window with a Psalter in her hand to see the funerall solemnly pass by whether in scorn of the person deâ—ision of the Ceremony or both is not certain but she began to sing the Psalm of Te Deum laudamus backward when instantly both her eies dropped out of her head with a great flux of blood which stained her book and it was after kept as a sacred relique in memory of the Divine judgement What need I trouble you with citing antiquities how this sin ought to be punished on earth when we see how hatefull it is in the eies of heaven besides to insult upon the bodies of the dead is monstrous and even in things senslesse to be punished Ausonius remembers us of one Achillas who finding a dead mans scull in a place where three sundrie waies divided themselves and casting to hit it with a stone it rebounded again from the scull and stroke himself on the forehead his words be these Abjecta in triviis inhumati glabra jacebat Testa hominis nudum jam cute calvicium Fleverant alii fletu non motus Achillas c. Where the three waies parted a mans soul was found Bald without hair unburied above ground Some wept to see 't Achillas more obdure Snatcht up a stone and thinks to hit it sure He did so at the blow the stone rebounds And in the eies and face Achillas wounds I wish all such whose impious hands prophane The dead mans bones so to be stroke again Of Mothers that have slain their Children or Wives their Husbands c. MEdea the daughter of Oeta King of Colchos first slew her young brother in those Islands which in memory of his inhumane murther still bear his name and are called Absyrtides and after her two sons Macarâ—â—â— and Pherelus whom she had by Iason Progne the daughtâ—er of Pandion murthered her young son It is begot by Terâ—us the son of Mars in revenge of the rape of her sister 〈◊〉 Ino the daughter of Cadmus Melicertis by 〈◊〉 the son of Aeolus Althea the daughter of Theseus slew her son Meleager by Oeneus the son of Parthaon Themisto the daughter of Hypseus Sphincius or Plinchius and Orchomenus by 〈◊〉 at the instigation of Ino the daughter of Cadmus Tyros the daughter of Salmoneus two sons begot by 〈◊〉 the son of Aeolus incited thereto by the Oracle of Apollo Agave the daughter of Cadmus Pentheus the son of Echiâ—â— at the importunity of Liber Pater Harpalice the daughter of Climenus slew her own father because he forcibly despoiled her of her honor Hyginus in Fabulis These slew their Husbands Clitemnestra the daughter of Theseus Agamemnon the son of Atreus Hellen the daughter of Iupiter and Laeda Deiphobus the son of Priam and Hecuba he married her after the death of Paris Agave Lycotherses in Illyria that she might restore the Kingdom to her father Cadmus Deianeira the daughter of Oeneus Althea Hercules the son of Iupiter Alomena by the Treason of Nessus the Centaur Iliona the daughter of Priam Polymnestor King of Thrace Semyramis her husband Ninus King of Babylon c. Some have slain their Fathers others their Nephewes and Neeces all which being of one nature may be drawn to one head And see how these prodigious sins have been punished Martina the second wife to Heraclius and his Neece by the brothers side by the help of Pyrrhus the Patriarch poisoned Constantinus who succeeding in the Empire fearing left her son Heraclius should not attain to the Imperiall Purple in regard that Constantinus left issue behind him two sons Constantes and Theodosius which he had by Gregoria the daughter of Nycetas the Patritian notwithstanding he was no sooner dead but she usurped the Empire Two years of her Principality were not fully expired when the Senate reassumed their power and called her to the bar where they censured her to have her tongue cut out lest by her eloquence she might perswade the people to her assistance her son Heraclius they maimed off his Nose so to make him odious to the multitude and after exiled them both
into Cappadocia Cuspinianus in vita Heraclii A more terrible judgement was inflicted upon Bâ—unechildis whose History is thus related Theodericus King of the Frenchmen who by this wicked womans counsel had polluted himselfe with the blood of his own naturall brother and burthened his conscience with the innocent deaths of many other noble gentlemen as well as others of meaner 〈◊〉 and quality was by her poisoned and deprived of 〈◊〉 when he had made a motion to have taken to wife his Neece a beautifull young Lady and the daughter of his late slain brother Brunechildis with all her power and industry opposed the Match affirming that Contract to be meerly incestuous which was made with the brothers daughter she next perswaded him that his son Theodebertus was not his own but the adulterate issue of his wife by another at which words he was so incensed that drawing his sword he would have instantly transpierc'd her but by the assistance of such Courtiers as were then present she escaped his fury and presently 〈◊〉 plotted his death and effected it as aforesaid Trittenbemâ—â—s de Regib 〈◊〉 and Roberâ—us Gaguinus lib. 2. Others write that he was drowned in a River after he had reigned 〈◊〉 years Aventinus affirms That presently after he had slain his brother entring into one of his Cities he was struck with thunder Annal. Boiorum lib. 3. But this 〈◊〉 Butcheresse Brunechildis after she had been the 〈…〉 an infinit number of people and the death of 〈◊〉 Kings at length moving an unfortunate war against Lotharius to whom she denied to yield the Kingdome she was taken in battell and by the Nobility and Captain of the Army condemned to an unheard of punishment She was first beaten with four Bastoons before she was brought before Lotharius then all her Murthers Treasons and Inhumanities were publiquely proclaimed in the Army and next her legs and hands being fastned to the tails of wild horses pluckt to pieces and dissevered limb from limb Anno 1618. Sigebertus Trittemhemius Gaguinus and Aventinus And such be the earthly punishments due to Patricides and Regicides Touching Patricides Solon when he instituted his wholsome Lawes made no Law to punish such as thinking it not possible in nature to produce such a Monster Alex. lib. 2 cap. Romulus appointing no punishment for that inhumanity included Patricides under the name of Homicides counting Manslaughter and Murther abhorred and impious but the other impossible Plutarch in Romulo Marcus Malleolus having slain his mother was the first that was ever condemned for that fact amongst the Romans his Sentence was to be sowed in a sack together with a Cock an Ape and a Viper and so cast into the river Tiâ—er a just infliction for such immanity The Macedonians punished Patricides and Traitors alike and not only such as personally committed the fact but all that were any way of the comederacy Alex. ab Alex. lib 3. cap. 5. and all such were â—â—â—ned to death The Aegyptians stabbed them with Needles and Bodkins wounding them in all the parts of their body but not mortally when bleeding all over from a thousand small orifices they burnt them in a pile of thorns Diodor. Sicul. lib. 2. de rebus antiq The Lusitanians first exiled them from their own confines and when they were in the next forreign air stoned them to death Nero having slain his mother Agrippina by the hand of Anicetes had such terror of mind and unquietnesse of conscience that in the dead of the night he would leap out of his bed horribly affrighted and say when they that attended him demanded the cause of his disturbance That he heard the noice of trumpets and charging of battels with the grones of slaughtered and dying men from the place where his mother was interred Therefore he often shifted his houses but all in vain for this horror still pursued him even to his miserable and despairing end for so Xâ—philâ—nus testates the Abbreviator of Dion in Nerone The perfidiousnesse of Husbands to their Wives hath been thus punished By the Law of Julia all such were condemned as rioted and wasted the dowries of their Wives The Romans did not only hold such impious and sacrilegious that prophaned their Temples and despised the Altars of the gods but those also that were rudely robustious and laid violent hands upon their wives and children in such a reverent estimation they held fatherly issue and conjugal piety Alex. lib. 4. cap. 8. Almaricus having married the sister of the French King and using her most contumeliously and basely for no other reason but that she was a faithful follower of the true Religion and quite renounced Arianisme was by her brother Chilbertus vexed and tormented with a bloody and intestine war Michael Ritius lib. 1. de Regib Francorum M. Valerius Maximus and Cai. Junius Brutus being Censors removed L. Antonius from the Senate for no other reason but that without the advice and counsell of his friends he had repudiated a virgin to whom he had been before contracted Val. Maxim lib. 2. cap. 4. So Tiberius Caesar discharged an eminent Roman from his Quaestorship for divorcing his wife the tenth day after he had been married accounting him meerly void of faith or constancy that in a businesse so weighty and of so great moment in so small a time exprest himselfe variable and inconstant Alex. lib. 4. cap. 8. Rodulphus Veromandorum Comes forsook his wife to marry the sister of the Queen Petronilla for which he was excommunicated by the Church of Rome and the Bishop Laudunensis Bartholomaeus Noviocomensis and Simon Peter Sylvanectensis that were assistants to the Earl Rodulphus in that unjust divorce were all suspended by the Pope Robertus in Chronicis The revenge of these libidinous insolencies was most apparant in the Emperor Andronicus who after the death of Emanuel who preceded him caused his son the immediate heir to the Empire to be sowed in a sack and cast into the sea And being now securely installed in the Constantinopolican Principality besides a thousand butcheries slaughters and other insufferable cruelties he addicted himselfe to all luxurious intemperance as vitiating virgins corrupting Matrons contaminating himselfe with shamefull Whoredomes and Adulteries not sparing the religious Nunneries but forcing the Cloisters ravishing thence whom he pleased to glut his greedy and insatiate lust and when 〈◊〉 own desires were qualified would deliver them up to be stuprated by his grooms and vassals With whose unbridled appetites and insufferable madnesse the people being vexed and tired they invited Isacius to the 〈…〉 besieging the Tyrant took him and presented him before the Emperor elected who because he had so malitiously trespassed against every man devised for him a punishment that might give satisfaction to all he therefore caused him to put off his Imperiall Robes and to appear no other then a private man such as he had maliciously offended next caused one of his eies to be pluckt out the punishment devised by
together in their fall Whilst all the Potters quake with such a ruine As when huge masts are split and crackt withall The warring winds the seamans wrack pursuing In such a tempest let the Chimnies shatter And the vast frame within its basses sink Whilst 'bout their cars the tiles and rafters clatter That all their pipkins steaâ— and pots for drink And other uses may be crusht to pouder And so convert again into that mire Whence they were forg'd Or if a horror lowder May be devis'd here vent thy worst of ire Else let that Witch that cals Apollo father Who can from hell the blackest furies call And her infectious drugs and poisons gather And sprinkle them on work-men work and all Let Chiron to this forge his Centaurs bring All that survived the battell ' gainst Jove's son That they these pots against the wals may ding And all their labours into ruine run Till what they see he nothing and these here Spectators of this wrack may howl and yell And their great losse lament with many a teare Whilst I may laugh aloofe and say 't was well And to conclude that he that next aspires But to come nere the furnace where they stand May be the fuel to these raging fires And be consum'd to ashes out of hand So may the rest that shall escape this danger Be warn'd by these how to deride a stranger That the former writers might demonstrate unto us That humane actions are not altogether so governed by the force coelestiall but that there is some place left open for mans prudence and wisedome and besides to deliver unto us how acceptable the knowledge of good things is to him who is the giver of all graces they therefore left this expression to posterity that Wisedome was the daughter of Jupiter and born without a mother since God is only wise and men not so but meerly in a similitude or shadow Therefore to manifest the power of Wisdome they feigned her to come into the world armed because the wise man respects not the injuries of Fortune nor puts his trust in any worldly felicity further then by counsell and patience to subdue the one and moderate the other stil placing his hopes in that fountaine from whence she first proceeded Next because the feare of the Lord is the beginning of Wisedome she is said to have combated Giants the sonnes of the earth such as in that Gigomantichia would have pluckt Jupiter out of his throne by which are intended the presumptions of nature and the insolencies of men who all service and adoration to the divine powers neglected are not affraid to make insurrection against heaven it selfe I may therefore conclude that all humane wisedome different against the divine will is vain and contemptible since the good man is onely wise and in the grace and favour or his Maker Diana SHE is the daughter of Iupiter and Latona the goddesse of Virginity and Chastity In the heaven she is called Luna the Moon in the earth Diana in Hell or amongst the Infernals Prosâ—erpina of which three-fold power she is called Triformis and Triula The places sacred to her were as Valerius Flaccus affirms Parthenius a flood of Paphlagonia She with her brother Apollo was born in Cinthus a mountain hanging over Delos of whom Statius saith they are both called Cinthii In Ephesus a City of Ionia or Lydia she had a magnificent Temple numbred amongst the seven wonders of the world In Bauron a City of Attica she was likewise honoured And as Lucan testates in Taurus a mountain in Sicily and as Virgil in Delos Notior ut canibus non jam sit Delia nostris Not Delia to our dogs is better known Horace reports her to have two mountains in Italy dedicated to her deity Aventinus and Algidus In her sacrifices a Hart was stall offered at her Altar and dogs or hounds as Ovid writes Extra canum Triviae vidi mactare Sabaeos Et quicunque tuas accolit Haeme Nyves The Sâ—baeans and the Thessalians inhabiting the snowie mountain Haemus used dogs in their oblations Of her Temple at Ephesus it shall not be amiss to speak a word or two by the way Plutarch in his book De vitando Aere alieno saith that the Temple of Diana was a Sanctuary wherein all debtors were safe from their creditors As the Vestals of Rome had the time of their service distinguished into three parts in the first to learn the mysteries of Vesta in the second to do the ceremonies and in the third to instruct others that were ignorant So amongst the Priests of Diana in Ephesus the first order of them gave them the name of Melieres that is to be capable of the Priesthood but not admitted the second was Hieres that was in present office the third Parieres that was dead from the service This stately and magnificent structure was first erected by the Amazons so beautifull and sacred that when Xerxes had with sword and fire wasted and demolisht all the Temples of Asia he spared only that as the richest jewell of the world It is reported of one Herostratus a wicked and debauch'd fellow who finding in himselfe nothing good to preserve his memory and willing that his name should live to posterity set this Temple on fire for no other purpose but that he would be talkt on the Ephesians understanding this his malicious ambition they made it death once to name him Cornelius Nepos writes that the same night that this famous structure was ruin'd and defaced by fire Alexander was born in Pella in the three hundred and eighth yeare after the building of Rome so that at the extinguishing of one light of the world another was kindled It being demanded of one of Diana's Priests Why Diana being a goddess would suffer her Temple to be utterly destroied and what she was a doing the while It was answered again That it was done unawares to the goddess for she was that night at the labour of Olympias and busied about bringing Alexander into the world Notwithstanding this great ruine the people of Ephesus caused it to be re-erected and made both richer and more beautifull than before of which work Dinocrates an Architectour of Macedonia was chiefe Diana as Plutarch in his Symposaicon saith is called Elitheia or â—ucina as also Locheia as goddessâ— of child-birth she is called also Dictiana And in his Solertia animalium that Apollo would be called Lycoconos and Diana Multicida Elaphibolos The one for killing so many wolves the other Harts Amongst the Aegyptians she is called Bubastis she is celebrated witnesse Herodotus amongst the Thressae and the Peloniates amongst the Bizantians she hath the name of Diana Orthosia The Poets fain that she is continually exercised in hunting for no other reason but to instruct and incourage all such as professe virginity to shun sloath and idlenesse so Ovid Otia si tollas periere cupidinis areus Take sloth away and Cupids how unbends His brands â—â—â—inguish
of the body have a consonance to the nature of that Planet under which they were born therefore some are delighted with one study some another according to the aspect of the Planeâ— For example if Mercury be in a good and pleasing aspect he begets eloquence facundity and elegancy of speech besides skill and knowledge in many things but especially in the Mathematicks the same being in conjunction with Jupiter they are bred Philosophers and Divines being join'd with Mars in his happy aspect it makes men skilfull Physiâ—ians and fortunate but in his bad aspect such as prove unskilfull unlucky and sometimes theeves and robbers which commonly happens when he is scorch'd with the Planet of the Sun Being in conjunction with Venus thence proceeds Musitians and Poets join'd with Luna wary Merchants and diligent and thrifty husbands with Saturn it infuseth men with prediction and prophesie But let this little serve to illustrate the rest so from the Muses we come to the Sybils Of the Sybils ISiodorus saith that the word Sybilla is a name of place and office and not of person It is derived of Syos which signifies Deus God and Beele as much as to say Thought So that Sybill comprehends a woman that had gods thought For as a man that prophesieth is called a Prophet so a predicting woman is called a Sybill Of their number the ancient writers much differ Aelianus in his book De varia Historia thus speaks There were foure Sybils Erithraea Samia Aegyptia and Sardinia Others to these adde six more to make the number ten amongst which are numbred Cymaea and Judaea with the three Bacchides one of Greece a second of Athens a third of Arcadia It seems he had forgot to reckon the tenth Aretine in his book De aquila volante agrees with Isiodorus In the etymology of the word Tanto sona quanto à aire mente devina He likewise numbers ten the first saith he was of Persia the second of Lybia the third was named Delphica being born in the Island of Delphos and near to the Temple of Apollo who prophesied of the wars of Troy the fourth was called Omeria and was of Italy the fifth Erythraea and born in Babylon she composed a book which in the Greek tongue was intituled Vasillogra the sixt was called Sania or rather Samia as born in the Isle Samos the seventh Cumana of the City Cuma whose Sepulchre as Isiodorus writes is in Sicily she brought certain books to Tarquinius Priscus which spake of the Roman succession and what should futurely betide them prescribing them the Ceremonies to be used in their sacrifices the eighth Ellespontiaca who likewise prophesied of the wars of Troy the ninth Phrigia the tenth and last Alburnea who prophesied many things concerning the Saviour of the world And so far Aretine The opinion of Johannes Wyerius in his book De praestigiis Daemonum is to this purpose That the devill in the theatre of this world might put a face of honesty upon all those Tragedies which he aim'd to execute upon mankind he instituted his Enthusiastae and his Pythean Oracles which were in use almost amongst all nations insomuch that their superstitions and prophanations had crept in amongst the people of God so that Moses made a law that all those that repaired to these jugling sorcerists should be stoned to death Amongst these are counted some of the Sybils though not all as the hirelings of the devill for the conservation and confirmation of his Kingdome for out of their books the Romans were drawn into many lunacies and frenzies as besides many other it is manifest in Zozâ—mus who recites many of ther verses full of tradition and superstitions meerly unlawfull though the two Sybils Erythraea and Cumana in heroick Poems prophesied of Christ and sung and declared his praises which as some conjecture they did by the sight of the prophesies of Esaias and David These Oracles lasted to the comming of our Savior but then surceast through all the parts of the world There were also a kind of sorcerists which some call Lemures the word importing the spirits and ghosts of such as perisht before times or abortively for from such they fathered their predictions and prophesies Of this kind there were many in Germany as Wyerâ—us relates who were of long continuance and such were called Alhae Mulieres or the white women which in their modern tongue implies as much as the white Sybils and this sort of people was ominous to women with child and to infants sucking at their mothers breasts and in their cradles These though in times of old they were most frequent and common when the world attributed too much to the jugling illusions of the devill yet since the Saviour of the world and our only patron hath supplanted him by the more pure and fervent preaching of the Gospell these mockeries and fallacies by which hee cheated the unlettered multitude of their faith and God of his honour are meerly adnichilated insomuch there is scarce left to posterity the least memory of their wicked traditions Of such as these it seems S. Hierom took especiall notice when in an Epistle writ to Paula upon the death of Blesilla he thus speaks Quae causa est ut saepe Dimuli Trimuli ubera lactantes c. i. What is the reason that children of two or three years of age and such as suck at the breast should be corrupted by devils The Ethnicks custome was to give names to such according to the diversity of their actions there were some called Hecataea as sent from Hecate others by the Italians Tolletae or Empedusae But this may appeare a digression from our Sybils therefore I thus proceed with them Pâ—trus Crinitus in his twentieth book De honesta disciplina speaking of the Sybils the Branchi and the Delphick prophetesses alledges Gellius Firmianus Hieronymus and other ancient writers extracting from their opinion which way and by what means these Oracles were imagined to be possest with the spirit of divination These of that order as Plato and Iamblicus have learnedly related either from the gods or spirits say they are inspired with that illumination by which they discern the fundamentall causes of things and can presage and foresee such events as shall succeed Iamblic in his book to Porphyrius saith thus The Sybill of Delphos two severall waies conceives the spirit by which she prophesies either by a soft breath or else by fire proceeding from the mouth of a certaine den or cave before the entrance of which she seats her selfe upon a three-footed or four-footed stool of brasse in which place the divine power either by whispering in her care or by some other infused blast inspired into her gives her the facility of uttering her predictions The Branchae sitting upon an axeltree held in her had a wand consecrated to some deity or other and either washt her selfe in some sacred fountain or received some influence from the vapour of
The fast two under the Messias awe And as repose by Sabbath is exprest Sun Moon and Stars all things shall then have rest It is likely and may be conjectured that she came to the light of Elias prophesies for in the like manner he distributed the world divining of the continuance of mankind and the change of times the first two thousand yeares he call Tempus inane which may be thus interpreted because the many regions of the earth were not fully inhabited Babylon not yet built and divers spatious Provinces undiscover'd or else because the politick estate of the Church was not yet visibly established and separated from other nations For then were no Empires extant which after were apparant in the Monarchies Yet doubtlesse it is that the first age was the golden and most flourishing because the nature of man was then most potent and vigorous as may appeare by their longevity living so many hundred years moreover it bred many wise old men full of the divine light that spake of God of the Creation and were witnesse of the Arts and Sciences The second time was numbred from the Circumcision to Christs comming in the flesh and being born of a Virgin which conteins little lesse than two thousand years and that is under the Law The third time if it reach not to the full number to equall the former it is for our sins which are many and great for which mankind shall be the sooner destroi'd and Christ for his elect sake will hasten his judgement Sybilla Cumana SHe was likewise called Amalthaea Hyginus in his second book speaks of Amalthaea that gave suck to Jupiter in his infancy his history he derives from Parmenesius and relates it thus There was a certaine King of Creet called Mellisaeus to whose daughters young Jupiter was sent to be nursed but they wanting milk brought unto him a goat called by that name which gave him suck This goat was so fruitfull that she ever brought forth two Kids and was then newly eased of her burden when Jupiter was brought thither to be fostred In gratitude of which good done to him he after translated her and her kids amongst the stars which Cleostratus Tenedius first observed Musaeus reports otherwise That Athemides and Amalthaea were two nurses to whom the charge of Jupiters infancy was committed both beautifull Nymphs Amalthaea having a goat whom she much loved and with whose milk she brought him up Palepbatus in his fabulous narrations speaks of the horn of Amalthaea which Hercules still bore about him which was of that vertue that it still supplyed him with all necessaries whatsoever from which grew a Proverb That all such as were supplyed without complaining of want were said to have the 〈◊〉 of Amalthaea the history is thus Hercules travelling through Boeotia to visit his Nephew Iolaus sojourned by the way for a season amongst the Thespians where lived a woman of approved beauty and vertue called Amalthaea with whose feature Hercules being much delighted he hosted there longer than his purpose which Iolaus taking ill Amalthaea out of a horn in which she had hoarded some quantity of monie furnisht Hercules with all things needfull which some strangers taking especiall notice of they rumour'd it abroad and from thence first grew the Proverb But to return to our Amalthaea Cumana This was she by whose conduct Aeneas had free passage into hell as Virgil expresseth at large in his sixth book She brought to Tarquinius Priscus those three books of Prophesies of which two were burnt and one preserved By which computation comparing the time betwixt Aeneas and Tarquin she could live no lesse then five hundred years nor is it altogether incredible since when Livia the daughter of Rutilius Terentia of M. Cicero and Clodia of Aulus the first lived ninety seven yeares the second a hundred and thirty the third a hundred and fifteen after the bearing of fifteen children Gorgias Leontius the tutor of Isocrates and many other learned men in the hundred and seventh year of his age being asked Why he desired to live any longer answered Because he felt nothing in his body by which to accuse age Herodotus Pliny Cicero and others speak of one Arganthonius Gaditanus who raigned fourscore yeares being sixty yeares of age before he came to his crown Solinus and Ctesias with others averre that amongst the Aethiopians a hundred and thirty years is but a common age and many arrive unto it Hellanicus testates that the Epians a people of Aetolia attained to two hundred whom Damiales exceeds naming one Littorius that reached to three hundred the like we read of Nestor I will conclude with Dondones whom Pliny affirms survived five hundred years yet never stooped with age More liberally speaks Zenophon who bestowes on one of the Latine Kings eight hundred and six hundred upon his father but I will forbear further to speak of her age and come to her Oracle Vnto the Assyrian Monarchy we assigne One thousand yeares two hundred thirty nine When thirty six successions shall expire The last his glories pomp shall end in â—iâ—e Thence to the Meads it transmigrates and they Shall in nine full successions beare chiefe sway Three hundred years shall memorise their deeds Wanting just eight The Persian then succeeds In th' universall Empire which must last Fourteen Kings reigns and then their sway be past Over to Greece but ere the light blow out Two hundred fifty years shall come about Adding five months The Monarchy now stands Transferr'd on Macedonia who commands The world but Alexander by him is guided The spatious earth but in his death divided Amongst his Captains Macedon one ceaseth Asia another Syria best pleaseth A third Egypt a fourth thus lots are cast Two hundred eighty eight their pomp shall last And then expire Great Rome shall then look hie Whose proud towers from 7. hils shall brave the skie And overlook the world In those blest daies Shall come a King of Kings and he shall raise A new plantation and though greater far Than all the Monarchs that before him are In majesty and power yet in that day So meek and humble he shall dain to pay Tribute to Caesar yet thrive happy he That shall his subject or his servant be After the death of Alexander the Kingdome of Macedonia was successively injoied by fifteen Kings and indured a hundred fifty seven years and eight months Asia and Syria were governed by nineteen Kings and lasted two hundred eighty nine years Egypt was possest by ten Ptolomies and lastly by Cleopatra and it continued two hundred eighty eight years These Kingdomes failing the Romans gained the chiefe predominance Of this Sybill S. Isiodore Virgil and Ovid writ more at large she writ her Prophesie in leaves of trees and then plac'd them over the Altar which when the wind moved or made to shake they had no efficacy but when they remained firm and without motion they received their
when th' one is fail'd And the other not yet perfect duls the sight No wakefull dog or clamorous cock hath rail'd Vpon the drowâ—ie Morn early to dight The Suns steeds Here the bird that sav'd of old Romes Capitâ—l is never heard to scold The brawling Crane nor yet the pâ—ating Crowe Or tatling Parret to dâ—sturb the eaâ—â— No bellowing Bull swift Hartâ—or Asse more slow Is heard to bray we have all silence here Only a murmuring river which doth flow From Lethe with his streams mongst pebbles cleer Luls the dull sense to soft and feathered rest Charming the cares and sorrowes in the brest Before the gate the drowsie Poppy springs With thousand plants and simples without number Not one but to the brain a numnessi brings Inviting all the powers of man to slâ—mber Whose milkie juice the Night on her black wings Beares t'wart the earth and scatters Who dares cumber This universall whistnesse where none come But taciturnity and silence dumbe Vpon the door no ratling hammers stroke Is heard without to startle those withn No creeking â—hinge by which oft sleep is broke Than to speak loud there 's held no greater sin Midst a vast room a bed hew'd out of Oke That had of late some ancient relâ—que been Fring'd with thâ—â—kâ—â—st and lasie â—obwebs stands Not in an age 〈…〉 with carefull hands Vpon this easie couch with 〈◊〉 hung Of duskie coloured silk you may behold The god of slâ—ep in carelesse fashion flung Stretching his drowsie limbs whom nâ—ne 〈◊〉 so bold To â—og or 〈◊〉 where snortings are heard sung Th' are pincht to softer breath Some dream of gold Of trâ—stes some his Court here Morpheus keeps Which no man sooner enters then he sleeps And this description begins to make me drowsie already But lest speaking too much of sleep I may be taxed and so taken napping my selfe I leave the brother fast sleeping to find out the sister who to the worlds end shall ever be waking Death is said to be educated by her mother Night Pausanias puts us in mind that in a Temple amongst the Eleans there was a woman poâ—tâ—aied leading two sleepy children that in her right hand White that in her left hand Black both with 〈◊〉 legs and mishapen feet the inscription upon the one Sleep upon the other Death the woman that cherâ—sht them Night This death of all the powers that are is most impartiall and implacable and because by no praiers nor intercessions she is to be moved therefore there are no Altars nor Temples nor sacrifices celebrated to her honour her impartiality and implacability Orpheus hath signified in one of his hymns Nec prece muneribus nec tu placabilis ullis She is attired in a sable garment spotted with stars The wise men of the former ages extold her with miraculous praises calling her the portand only secure harbor of rest she frees the body from a thousand pains and diseases delivers the subject from the cruelty of the tyrant and makes the begger equall with his Prince She to all good men is acceptable and welcome only dreadfull to the wicked who have a presage and feare of punishments to come Alcidamus writ an excellent book in the praise of Death having a large and copious argument in which he strove to expresse with what an equall sufferance and modest patience she was to be enterteined Of the same argument writes Plutarch in Consolator for life is nothing else but a light lenâ— us by the Creator of all mankind which if it be redemanded of us ought no more grudgingly to be paid back then comming to a friends house to be merry in the morning and having feasted there all the day to return to our home at night or to pay back what we borrow to the owner For there is no injury done to us if God demand that back at our hands which he hath before but lent us Now from the daughter to come back to the mother and know what is allegorically meant by Night These pests and mischiefes before commemorated are therefore said to be her sons and daughters because the ignorance and malice of man which is indeed the night of the mind is the parent and nurse of all calamities incidents to us yet may some of their violences by wisedome be mitigated though not frustrated of their ends namely Age Love Fate Death and the like who though they be in perpetuall motion their speed may be slackned though not staied and their pace slowed though not quire stopt She was called the most Ancient because before the Heavens and the Sunne were created there was no light extâ—nt which is said to proceed from the lower parts of the earth in regard that the Sunne compassing the world when he lights the Antipodes with his beams the earth shadowes them from us which shadow is nothing else then Night She is called the mother of all as being before the birth of any thing The word Nox is derived à Nocendo of hurting or harming the reason is as some Physitians hold opinion because the corrupt humors of the night are infectious and dangerous especially to men any way diseased of which there is continuall experience in all such as have either wounds or aches or agues or feavers or the like to all such weaknesses or imperfections the humours of the night are still most hurtfull and obnoxious And so much briefly what morally can be gathered by that which hath been fabulously commented of Night That Sleep could not fasten on the eies of Jupiter it is intended not to be convenient for him that hath the charge and protection of the whole Universe to whose care and foresight the administration and guidance of all things are committed should so much as slumber or wink at all neither doth the divine Nature need any rest to repaire and comfort his troubled spirits when he is not capable of either labour or discommodity And Lethe is called the sister of Somnuâ— in regard that by our naturall repose we for the time forget all paine anguish or trouble Because he comes to many creatures and at the same time he is said to be winged in regard the humour of the Night encreaseth the vapours of the stomack ascending to the higher parts of the body which after by the frigidity of the braine descend againe lower and more cool by which Sleep is begot he is therefore not unproperly called the son of Night which Night cals me now to rest with the finishing of this second book called Euterpe Explicit Lib. 2. THE THIRD BOOK of Women inscribed THALIA Treating of Illustrious Queens Famous Wives Mothers Daughters c. Containing the Histories of sundry Noble Ladies GOrgias held opinion that Women were not to be honoured according to their form but their fame preferring actuall vertue before superficiall beauty to incourage which in their sex funerall orations were allowed by the Roman Lawes to be celebrated for all such as had been either presidents of
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
doubt knâ—w how to distinguish betwixt folly and malice Notwithstanding these smooth evasions Nicocrates fully pâ—llest of the truth gave her up into the hands of his mother to be tormented who as she is before charactered being harsh and mercilesse woman left nothing â—unâ—tâ—â—â—pted that torture could devise to wrest from her a capitall confession 〈…〉 with wondrous patience and constancy enduring whatsâ—ever the beldam could inflict up in her Culbia grew as weary in punishing as she in suffâ—â—ing insomuch that Nicocrates was in some sort perswaded of her innocency and commanded her release seeming sorrowfull for the torments she had endured so that his former loâ—e conquering his suspition he began to study a new reconcilement and excusing his too much credulousnesse renued his ancient familiarity and custome But she not forgetting her former rocks and strapadoes now bâ—gan to meâ—itate upon his death another way she had a daughter of exquisite feature and the Tyrant had a brother called Leander a wild headed young man and apt for any innovation or haiâ—-brain'd attempt she wrought 〈◊〉 far with her and so inwardly with him that by the consent of the King 〈…〉 was concluded betwixt them All these things â—â—lling out according to her wishes her daughter by the mothers instigation wrought so far upon his rashnedâ— in private and the mother gave him such incouragement with all that putting him in hope to enjoy the soveraignty 〈…〉 they perswaded him to supplant his brother This took such prosperous effect that he suborned a 〈…〉 who attending his opportunity 〈…〉 not with this contented 〈…〉 the whole family of the 〈…〉 her Countrie from all 〈…〉 the Citizens against 〈◊〉 for the murder of her King and second husband dâ—awing him into the 〈◊〉 of that publike hate that 〈◊〉 was forced to flie as a traitor and â—aâ—â—â—icide neither was she satisfied whilst he yet lived therefore by her wit and policy and the industry of one Anabas he was at length subtilly surprised by which the City received her pristine liberty and freedome For which the people would have done her divine honors as to a goddesse which she utterly refused They next proceeded to justice upon the delinquents where Calbia was judged to the fire and burnt alive and Leander to be sowed in a sack and so cast into the sea both which executions were accordingly performed The people then once againe assembled and prostrated themselves before her jointly beseeching her either to take upon her the primacy and chiefe government or at least to be a gracious assistant to the Magistrates and Princes with her directions and counsell both which she utterly refused betaking her selfe to a solitary and retired life spending the rest of her age in spinning weaving and the like womanish chares amongst her handmaids Many of the Iones by reason of a discord that fell betwixt them and the sons of of Neleus were forced to leave the City Miletum where they before inhabited and were driven to plant a new Colony in Manus betwixt which Cities there was a perpetuall jar and enmity insomuch that from a private quarrell it grew to a publike war yet nor in that violence but that upon certain festivall daies there was free recourse betwixt the Citizens of the one and the other to be present at the sacred solemnities There was amongst these of the City of Minus one of a Noble family whose name was Pythes his wife was called Japigia and his daughter Pyeria He when the great Feast celebrated to Diana called Nelaim of the opposite family was kept sent thither his wife and daughter intreating the Milesians to suffer them to participate of their solemnities which was granted at which enterview Phrigius the chiefe of the sons of Neleus a man post potent in the City grew enamoured on Pyeria and in couâ—ting her desired her to demand what curtesie soever the City or his power could yeeld and it should be instantly granted to which he answered That nothing could be more acceptable unto her then that the 〈◊〉 might have more often and peaceable recourse into their City By which he apprehended that she desired no more then a cessation of arms and that peace might be established betwixt the two Cities which by their marriage was accordingly effected and Pyeria ever after honoured for the motion Insomuch that it grew to a Proverb All the Milesian women desiring to be no better beloved of their husbands then Pyeria was of her Phrigius Aspasia being the daughter of Hermotimus Phocencis her mother dying of her in childbirth was by her fathers care brought up though meanly yet modestly and growing towards understanding she had many dreams as presages of her future fortunes namely that succeeding times should afford her a husband faire good and rich In this interim she was troubled with an unseemly swelling of the chin so great that it grew almost to a deformity being a sorrow to the father and almost a heart-break to the daughter Hermotimus carefull of her health presents her malady to the Physitian who was willing to undertake the patient but withall proposed too great a summe for the cure the one replying The demand is above my strength the other answered Then is the cure above my skill and so departed This discouragement from a Tumour without grew to a Corrasive within as much tormented with the despair of her recoveries as the violence of the disease In this anxiety of thoughts and agony of paine being much perplexed she gave her selfe to all abstinence and forbare to eat till on a time gentle slumber stealing upon her there appeared to her a Turtle which was instantly transhapt into a woman most beautifull who drawing more neer bids her take courage and be of comfort and forgetting the Physitians with all their drugs unguents and emplasters only to apply to the place then grieved Rose leaves dried to powder and not to doubt of her present recovery and having thus said upon the instant vanisht Aspasia awaking and by this vision much comforted applied to her face such things as she was taught in short time all swelling was taken away and she restored to her pristine beauty with such an addition of comelinesse that those with whom she before was held but equall she in the eies of all men might now claim over them a just precedence for she is thus described Her hair somewhat yellow and from her temples naturally curling her eies big and clear her nose somewhat but most becommingly hooked her ears short her skin white and soft her cheeks seeming to lodge the sweet blushes of the Rose for which cause the Phocenses call'd her from an infant Milto her lips red her teeth then snow more white her feet without all fault her voice so sweet and ravishing that when she spake she would put you in mind of what you have read of the Syrens From all effeminate curiosities she studied to alienate her selfe these being commonly the superfluities of wealth
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
done whilst the greatest part of the Nobility were absent and none since admitted into the Palace much lesse into the presence lest the Magician might be unvizarded and the deceit made palpable The greater fears and doubts still invironing the Princes because Praxaspes not daring to justifie the murder kept it still lockt in his own breast The Magician in this interim was not only possest of all the Kings Pallaces and treasures but he enjoied all his wives 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 indeared to Cambyses and now since to the counterfeit Smerdu Otanes apprehends to be the first instrument by which to discover 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 unknown to her who was her bedfellow because she yet had neither seen Smerdis the son of Cyrus nor that man whatsoever he was into whose embraces she was commanded He then sent her word that if she her selfe could not come to the sight of him to demand of Atossa the daughter of Cyrus and brother to Smerdis who doubtlesse could decipher him in every true lineament To which the daughter returns him That she was separated both from the society and sight of Atossa for this man whosoever he is as soon as ever he had possest himselfe of the Empire commanded all the women into severall lodgings neither could they have any discourse or entercourse at all together This answer made Otanes the more and more suspitious and desirous with any danger to find out the truth he adventured a third message to Phaedima to this purpose It behooves you O daughter being descended from noble ancestors to undergo any hazard especially at the request of your father when it aims at the generall good of the Common-weal or Kingdome if that impostor be not Smerdu the brother of Cambyses as I much feare it becomes him neither to prostitute and defile your body nor to mock and abuse the whole estate of Persia unpunished therefore I charged you as you tender my love your owne honour and the Empires weale that the next night when you are called unto his bed you watch the time when he is soundliest asleep and then with your fingers gently feel both the sides of his head if thou perceivest him to have both his ears presume then thou lodgest by the side of Smerdis the son of Cyrus but if on the contrary thou findest his cors wanting then thou liest in the bosome of Smerdis that base Magician To this she replied by letter Though I truly apprehend the danger should I be taken seeking of such things as he perhaps knowes wanting which can be no less then death yet for your love and the common good I will undergo the perill and with this briefe answer gave satisfaction to her father But greater content he received from her when having discovered and laid open whatsoever her father suspected she sent him a faithfull relation of every circumstance These things discovered by Phaedima Olanes makes a conjuration amongst the Princes all vowing the supplantation of this usurper who in the interim the more to confirm the people in their errour he sent to Praxaspes promising him honours and treasures but to pronounce him once more before the people to be the true and legitimate heire This charge Praxaspes undertakes the multitude from all parts of the City were by the Magi assembled and he mounted unto the top of an high Turret the better to be heard silence being made and attention prepared Praxaspes begins his oration in which he remembers all the noble acts of Cyrus with the dignity of his blood and progeny and passing over Cambyses to come to speak of his brother Smerdis contrary to the expectation of the Magician 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 voiced into the sacred Empire namely a groom and one of low and base descent one that for cozenages and forgeries had lost his ears a Magician a Conjurer one that had long deluded them with his devilish sorceries a slave not worthy at all to live much lesse to raign and govern so noble a people and as a further confirmation that dying men speak true these words were no sooner ended but he casts himselfe off from the top 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 read in Herodotus But concerning Phaedima only for whose sake I have introduced the rest I know not whether I have indirectly brought her into this catalogue because she was so a noble a means of so notable a discovery yet considering she was one of the wives of Cambyses and he being dead so suddenly changing her affection to another and after being injoied by him of what condition soever to betray him all these circumstances considered I give her free liberty to be ranked amongst the rest Begum Queen of Persia ABdilcherai a brave and valiant Prince of Tartaria taken prisoner by Emirhamze Mirize eldest son to the King of Persia in a battell betwixt the Persians and Tartarians was sent to the King into Casbia where his captivity in regard of his birth and valour was so easie that he rather seemed a deâ—ison then a forreiner a Prince of the blood then a Captive he not long so journed there but he insinuated himselfe into the love of the Queen Begum wife to the then King of Persia who spent their time together in such publicke dalliance not able to contain themselves within the bounds of any lawfull modesty that their familiarity grew almost into a by-word as far as his just taxation the Queens dishonour and the Kings scorn insomuch that both Court and City made them not only their argument of discourse but theam of table talk Yet in all this banding of their reputation and the Kings infamy nothing ever came within the compasse of his ear knowledge or suspition insomuch that seeing him to be so well a featured Gentleman knowing the Tartar to be so brave a souldier and approving him to be so compleat a Courtier and withall acknowledging from what high linage he was descended as boasting himselfe to be the brother of the great Tartar Chan The King of Persia therefore determined to marry him to his daughter hoping by that means to unite such a league and confirm such an amity betwixt the Tartarian Precopenses and himselfe that they might not only denie all aid and assistance to Amurath the third of that name and then
Great Agrippa Aristobulus and Herod that was strook by the Angell also on the aforesaid Beronica he begot two daughters Mariamnes and Herodias who was after Philips wife that was Uncle to Aristobulus neverthelesse whilst Philip was yet alive Herodias became wife to his brother Herod At length there fell debate betwixt her Mariamnes and Saloma Herods sister Herod by the instigation of Saloma â—lew Hyrcanus the Priest and after Jonathas the brother of Mariamnes who against the law he had caused to be consecrated Priest at the age of seventeen years After that he caused Mariamnes to be put to death with the husband of his sister Saloma pretending that Hyrcanus and Jonathas had adulterated his sister After these murders Herod grew mad for the love of Mariamnes who was held to be the fairest Lady then living and innocently put to death He then took again his wife Dosides and her son Antipater to favour sending Alexander and Aristobulus the sons of Mariamnes to Rome to be instructed in the best literature whom after he caused to be slain And these were the fruits of Adulterous and Incestuous marriages Of women that have come by strange deaths THere are many kinds of deaths I will include them all within two heads Violent and Voluntary the Violent is when either it comes accidentally or when we would live and cannot the Voluntary is when we may live and will not and in this we may include the blessedest or all deaths Martyrdome I will begin with the first and because gold is a mettall that all degrees callings trades mysteries and professions of either Sex especially acquire after I will therefore first exemplifie them that have died golden deaths Of the Mistresse of Brennus Of Tarpeia and Acco a Roman Matron OF Midas the rich King and of his golden wish I presume you are not ignorant and therefore in vain it were to insist upon his history my businesse is at this time with women Brennus an Englishman and the younger brother to Belinus both sons of Donwallo was by reason of composition with his brother with whom he had been competitor in the Kingdome disposed into France and leading an army of the Gals invaded forrein Countries as Germany Italy sacking Rome and piercing Greece Insomuch that his glory was stretched so far that the French Chroniclers would take him quite from us and called him Rex Gallorum witnesse Plutarch in his seventeenth Parallel This Brennus spoiling and wasting Asia came to besiege Ephesus where falling in love with a wanton of that City he grew so inward with her that upon promise of reward she vowed to deliver the City into his hands the conditions were that he being possessed of the Town should deliver into her â—ate custody as many jewels rings and as much treasure as should countervaile so great a benefit to which he assented The Town delivered and he being victor she attended her reward when Brennus commanded all his souldiers from the first to the last to cast what gold or silver or jewels they had got in the spoil of the City into her lap which amounted to such an infinite masse that with the weight thereof she was suffocated and prest to death This Clitiphon delivers in his first book Rerum Gallicar to answer which Aristides Melesius in Italicis speaks of Tarpeia a Noble Virgin or at least nobly descended and one of the Keepers of the Capitol she in the war betwixt the Sabines and the Romans covenanted with King Tatius then the publick enemy to give him safe accesse into the mountain Tarpeia so he would for a reward but possesse her of all the gold and jewels which his souldiers the Sabins had then about them This she performing they were likewise willing to keep their promise but withall loathing the covetousnesse of the woman threw so much of the spoile and treasure upon her that they buried her in their riches and she expiâ—ed admist a huge Magazin But remarkable above these is the old woman Acco or Acca who having done an extraordinary courtesie for the City of Rome they knew not better how to require her then knowing her a varitious disposition to give her free liberty to go into the common treasury and take thence as much gold as she could carry The wretched woman overjoied with this donative entered the place to make her pack or burden which was either so little she would not beare or so great she could not 〈◊〉 and swetting and striving beneath the burden so expâ—â—ed The like though something a more violent death died the Emperor Galba who in his life time being insatiate oâ— gold as being covetous above all the Emperors before him they poured molten gold down his throat to confirm in him that old Adage Qualis vita finis ita The like was read of the rich Roman Crassus Of such as have died in child-birth THough of these be infinites and daily seen amongst us yet it is nor altogether amisse to speak something though never so little which may have reference to antiquity Volaterranus remembers us of Tulliota the daughter of Marcus Cicero who being first placed with Dolobella and after with Piso Crassipides died in Child-bed The like Suetonius puts us in mind of Junia Claudilla who was daughter to the most noble Marcus Sillanus and wife to the Emperor Caâ—us Caligula who died after the same manner Hâ—ginus in his two hundred threescore and fourth Fable tels this tale In the old time saith he there were no midwives at all and for that cause many women in their modesty rather suffered themselves to perish for want of help then that any man should be seen or known to come about them Above all the Athenians were most curious that no servant or woman should learn the art of Chirurgery There was a damosell of that City that was very industrious in the search of such mysteries whose name was Agnodice but wanting means to attaine unto that necessary skill she caused her head to be shorn and putting on the habit of a young man got her selfe into the service of one Hierophilus a Physitian and by her industry and study having attained to the depth of his skill and the height of her own desires upon a time hearing where a Noble Lady was in child-birth in the middest of her painfull throwes she offered her selfe to her help whom the modest Lady mistaking her Sex would by no perswasion suffer her to come neer her till she was forced to strip her selfe before the women and to give evident signe of her woman-hood After which she had accesse to many proving so fortunate that she grew very famous Insomuch that being envied by the Colledge of the Physitians she was complained on to the Areopagitae or the nobility of the Senate such in whose power it was to censure and determine of all causes and controversies Agnodice thus convented they pleaded against her youth and boldnesse accusing her
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
and feature they were most frequent amongst the inhabitants of Tenedos and Lesbos Heraclius Lembus writes That in Sparta with great admiration and reverence they observe the fairest man or woman and commonly the Spartane beauties are the most illustrious Therefore of the King Archidamus it is left registred That being to make choice of a Queen when one singularly beautifull but of small doweâ— and another wondrous rich but extraordinary deformed were placed before him he cast 〈◊〉 upon the goods of Fortune and neglecting the treasures of Nature preferred bondage before beauty For which the Ephori which in Athens were the same Officers that The Tribunes were in Rome called him to account and put him to an extraordinary great 〈◊〉 saying This man in stead of Soveraigns would beget subjects and for Princes leave peasants to succeed and raign over us Euâ—ioides saith That beauty hath the first place in the claim of Empire therefore those that in Homer were admirers of Helens beauty spake to this purpose Indignum nihil est Troâ—s sortes Achivos Tempore tam longo perpessos esse labores Ob talem uxorem cui praestantissima soâ—ma Nil mortale refert superisque simillima dâ—vis The Greeks and Trejans who can say were base So long and so great labours to endure For such a wife whose most excellent face Shewes nothing mortall but all God like pure This made the Spartans the place from whence Helen was ravished as the greatest 〈◊〉 to entertain a stranger to shew unto them their Virgins naked A custome they had likewise in the Isle of Châ—os in certain times of the yeer after the same manner to behold the young men and maids in publick wrastle together Nitetis CAmbyses hearing that the Aegyptian women did much differ from other nations in manners and behaviour especially from the custome of the Persians sent to Amasa King of the Aegyptians to demand his only daughter in marriage The King something troubled at this Embassie as fearing he would rather keep his daughter as a concubin then to give her the right of her birth and to honor her with the titles of a Queen and Bride he devised this policy to delude Cambyses and still to conserve her chastity he had there in his Court a young Lady called Nitetis the daughter of Aprias an Aegyptian whom because he had been defeated in a battel against the Cyrenaeans Amasa had caused to be slain This Nitetis being the prime and choice beauty of the Court in all her lineaments so exquisite that he presumed she would not only content but much delight the King he instructed her how to take upon her the name of his daughter and in every circumstance and complement how to demean her selfe so with a Princely train accommodates her for the journie Being arrived in Persia she was reially enterteined by the King her behaviour and beauty more pleasing him then any of his choice damosels selected out of his many Provinces insomuch that he hastned the marriage which was with no small pomp according to the manner of the Persians Nitetis lying in the Kings bosome and knowing how much she was endeared to him as now not casting his eie or affection upon any other began to call to remembrance her fathers death and what a plain and smooth way lay open to her to be revenged on him that slew him and forgetting the honours she had received by Amasa's means in preferring her to be Queen of Persia not rating that good equall with the ill she received in the shedding of her fathers blood she opened to Cambyses all the whole imposture withall importuned him to revenge the death of her father Aprias The King as much pleased with her plain and seeming simplicity as incensed with so great an injury done to him by Amasa as well to revenge her father as his own wrongs with an invincible army invaded Aegypt Dinon in his book of the Persian History and Lynceas Naucratica in his Aegyptian History they agree that Nitetis was sent to Cyrus and that by him she was the mother of Cambyses and that after the death of Cyrus the Army with which he went against Amasa and invaded Aegypt was to revenge the wrongs of a mother and not a wife Bersane SHe as Curtius and Gellius both assent was the widdow of one Daâ—aseus of that singular aspect that Alexander the great became enamoured of her above all other so that when neither the rare beauty of Darius his wife and daughters could tempt him nor the whorish blandishments of Thaâ— and others corrupt him indeed where his in desty and temperance is preâ—â—rred before many other Princes almost all yet with her he was intangled For those that write of him affirm that he was never known to enter into the familiar embraces of any save his own wife and this Bersane whom he made one of the Queens women It is not to be questioned but that Berseba she was a goodly faire woman and of extraordinary fâ—â—rure which pierced so deep into the brest of that wise King and Prophet David that all religion and sanctity set apart he for her love committed the two most heinous and horrible sins of adultery and murder for he caused her husband Vriah to be slain and after married her a great blemish to his former holinesse of whom Strozzâ— Pater thus writes Ille sacri vates operis Jessâ—â—a proles Prafecit populo quem Deus ipse suo Bersabeae captus forma The Psalmisl born of the Jesseian Line The famous Author of that work Divine Whom God made Ruler 〈◊〉 his people he Dotes on the feature of faire Bâ—â—sabe Lycaste one of the daughters of Priam. was faire above measure insomuch that Polydamus the sonne of Anthenor whom he begor of Theano the sister of Hecuba of a Concubine made her his wise There was another Lycasle that we read of who for her perfection in all degrees of comliness had the name of Venus bestowed upon her The wise of Candaules THis Candaules whom the Grecians call Myrsilus was King of the Saâ—dians and descended from Alcaeus the son of Hercules having a wise whom he affectionatly loved and therefore judging her to be the fairest of women could not contain his pleasures but comming to one Gyges the son of Dascylus a servant of his to whom he vouchsafed his greatest familiarity he to him exâ—ols the beauty of his wife above measure and because saith he I would have thee truly know that she is no otherwise then I have reported her and that mens ears naturally aâ—e more incredulous then their eies I will devise a means that thou shalt see her naked To whom Gyâ—es replied O roiall Sir What words be these you speake thee which rather â—avours of a man distract then well coâ—â—sulled and advised women that put off their garments with them put off their modesty therefore it was well determined and provided by our fathers wherein
remain Whose power no limit can no place contein Who being born did'st now begin to see All these great works created first by thee The work and workman of thy selfe not scorning T' obey those weary hours of Ev'n and Morning Of which th' art Lord and tell each minute o'r Made by thy Wisdome for mans use before And took'st on thee our shape only to show To us that God we did till then not know c. Petronilla VVHen Peter the Apostle had by his faith cured all infirmities and diseases and in all places yet he suffered his daughter Petronilla to be grievously afflicted with a Feaver and being demanded why he that had cured others did not help her he answered Because he knew her sicknesse to be most behoofful for her souls health for the weaker she was in body she was so much the stronger in faith setling her cogitations on the joies of heaven and not the pleasures of the world desiring of God that she might rather die a chast Virgin then to be the wife of the Counsull Flaccus by whom she was at that time most earnestly solicited whose praier was heard for she died of that sicknesse and the Consull was prevented of his purpose who had long insidiated her chastity Marul lib 4 cap. 8. The like we read of Hillarius Pâ—ctaviensis Episcopus who having long trained up his daughter Appâ—a in chastity and sanctity of life fearing lest time might alter her vowes and tempt her with the vain pleasures of the world he besought the giver of all graces that he might rather with joy follow her to her grave then with sorrow to her marriage bed which was accordingly granted as the same Author testifies Eustochium the daughter of Paula a Noble matron of Rome is celebrated by Saint Hierom for the only president of Virginall chastity Tora the virgin was of that chast and austere life that having took a vow and once entred her profession she never put on her back any new garment or so much as changed her shooes Maria Aegyptiaca lived the life of an Hermit in the solitude of an unfrequented desart some write of her that as aften as she was seen to pray she seemed to be lifted up from the Earth into the Aire the height of a cubit Columba a Virgin of Perusina is reported to be of that chastity and abstinence that she never tasted any other food then the bare fruits of the earth from the years of her discretion till the hour of her death Amata was a professed Virgin who in forty yeâ—rs space never set foot over the threshold of that Cloister wherein she had confined her self in which time she never tasted food save bread and roots Sara lived in the time of Theodosius the elder she made a Vow never to lodge beneath any roof but inhabiting the bank of a certain river removed not from that place in threescore years The like is read of Sylvia a Virgin the daughter of Russinus a Prefect or Ruler in Alexandria who betook her selfe to solitude for the space of threescore years in which time she never washt any part of her body save her hands nor reposed her selfe upon any bed save the ground It is reported by Edward Hall John Leisland John Sleyden and others of S. Ebbe Abbesle of Collingham That to preserve her own and her sisters chastities and keep their vowes inviolate because they would seem odible to the Danes who had done many outrages both against Law and Religion and then tyrannized in the Land she cut off her own nose and upper lip and perswaded all the other Nuns to do the 〈◊〉 for whâ—â—h act the Danes burnt the Abby with all the 〈…〉 Fulgos lib. 4. cap. 3. speaks of Ildegunda a Germane Viâ—gin born in Nassau who after many temptations to which she feared her beauty might subject her in the year 1128 she changed her habit got to be entertein'd in a Priory neer unto worms called Scuâ—na beu Hiem in which she lived long by the name of Joseph in singular continence and modesty stil conversing amongst the learnedst and best approved schollers even till the time of her death neither was she then known to be a woman till comming to wash her body her Sex was discovered In the same Monastry and amongst that Covent lived Euphrosyna a Virgin of Alexandria by the name of Smaragdus as also one Marina who called her selfe Marinus both dissembling their Sex Gunzonis daughter to the Duke of Arboa was possessed by an evil spirit but after by the praiers of holy men being recovered she vowed perpetuall Virginity And after being demanded in marriage by Sigebertus King of the French men she was delivered unto him by her father who debating with her concerning his present purpose she humbly desired to be excused by his majesty in regard she had already past a pre contract The King demanding To whom she answered She was a betrothed Spouse to her Redeemer At which the King being startled forbore to compell her any further but suffered her to take upon her a religious life she preferring her Virgin Chastity before the state and title of a Queen And these shall suffice for Religious Virgins I now proceed to others that grounded their vertue on meer morality Baldraca was a Virgin but of mean parentage and of a dejected fortune yet to her never-dying honour and president to all ages to come notwithstanding she was not able to supply her selfe with things needfull and necessary either for sustenance or ornament neither by threats or menaces promises of worldly honours or promotion she could not be tempted to prostitute her selfe to the Emperor Otho Saxo Grammaticus writes of Serytha the daughter of Synaldus King of the Danes to be of that modesty that when the fame of her beauty had attracted a confluence of many suitors to the Court of her father yet she could never be won either to converse with or so much as to look upon any of them Tara was a French Lady of a noble and illustrious family she lived in the time of Heracâ—ius who when her father Hagerticus and her mother Leodegunda would have compell'd her to marry she fell into that excesâ—e of weeping that with the extraordinary flax of â—eares she grew blind soon after Dula was â— Virgin famous for her chastity who chose rather to be slain by the hand of a Souldier then to be despoiled of her Virginity Statyra and Roxana were the sisters of 〈◊〉 King of Pontus who for the space of forty yeers had kept their vow of Virginity inviolate these hearing the sad fate of their brother and fearing to be ravished by the enemy at least to fall into their captivity by taking of poison finished both their daies and sorrowes Plutarch writes of one Roxana drowned in a Well by Statyra It is reported of an
counsell with her about his recovery who told him there was no hope of his life unlesse he would yield that his young son then sucking at the Nurses breast should have his mortall infirmity confirmed upon it The father to save his own life yields that his son should perish of which the Nurse hearing just at the hour when the father should be healed is absent and conceals the child The father is no sooner toucht but helped of his disease the Witch demands for the child to transfer it upon him the child is missing and cannot be found which the Witch hearing broke out into this exclamation Actum est de me puer ubinam est i. I am undone where is the child when scarce having put her foot over the threshold to return home but she fell down suddenly dead her body being blasted and as black as an Aethiope The like remarkable Judgement fell upon a Witch amongst the Nanvetae who was accused of bewitching her neighbor The Magistrates commanded her but to touch the party distempered with her Inchantments which is a thing that is used by all the German Judges even in the Imperiall chamber it selfe The Witch denied to do it but seeing they began to compell her by force she likewise cried out I am then undone when instantly the sick woman recovered and the Witch then in health fell down suddenly and died whose body was after condemned to the fire And this Bodinus affirms to have heard related from the mouth of one of the Judges who was there present In Thoâ—oâ—a there was one skilful in Magick who was born in Burdegall he comming to visit a familiar friend of his who was extreamly afflicted with a Quartane Ague almost even to death told him he pitied his case exceedingly and therefore if he had any enemy but give him his name and he would take away the Feaver from him and transfer it upon the other The sick Gentleman thanked him for his love but told him there was not that man living whom he hated so much as to punish him with such a torment Why then saith he give it to my servant the other answering That he had not the conscience so to reward his good service Why then give it me saith the Magician who presently answered With all my heart take it you who it seemeth best knowes how to dispose it Upon the instant the Magician was stroke with the Feaver and within few daies after died in which interim the sick Gentleman was perfectly recovered Gregory Turonensis lib. 6. cap. 35. saith That when the wife of King Chilperick perceived her young son to be taken away by Witchcraft she was so violently incensed and inraged against the very name of a sorceresse that she caused diligent search to be made and all such suspected persons upon the least probability to be dragged to the stake or broken on the wheel most of these confessed that the Kings son was bewitched to death for the preservation of Mummo the great Master a potent man in the Kingdom this man in the midst of his torments smiled confessing that he had received such inchanted drugs from the Sorcerists that made him unsensible of pain but wearied with the multitude of torments he was sent to Burdegall where he not long after died I desire not to be tedious in any thing for innumerable Histories to these purposes offer themselves unto me at this present but these few testimonies â—roceeding from authentique Authors and the attestations 〈◊〉 such as have been approvedly learned may serve in this place as well as to relate a huge number of unnecessary discourses from writers of less fame and credit Neither is it to any purpose here to speak of the Witches in Lap-land Fin land and these miserable wretched cold Countries where to buy and sell winds betwixt them and the Merchants is said to be as frequent familiarly done amongst them as eating and sleeping There is anâ—ther kind of Witches that are called Extasists in whose discovery 〈◊〉 strive to be briefe A learned Neapolitan in a history 〈◊〉 since published that treats altogether of naturall Magick speaks of a Witch whom he saw strip her 〈◊〉 naked and having annointed her body with a certain 〈◊〉 fell down without sence or motion in which extasie she remained the space of three hours after she came to her selfe discovering many things done at the same time in divers remote places which after enquiry made were found to be most certain Answerable to this is that reported by the President Turetranus who in the Delphinate saw a Witch burned alive whose story he thus relates She was a maid-servant to an honest Citizen who comming home unexpected and calling for her but hearing none to answer searching the rooms he found her lying all along by a fire which she had before made in a private chamber which seeing he kickt her with his foot and bid her arise like a lazy huswiâ—e as she was and get her about her businesse but seeing her not to move he took a tough and smart wand and belaboured her very soundly but perceiving her neither to stir nor complain he viewing her better and finding all the parts of her body unsensible took fire and put it to such places of her body as were most tender but perceiving her to have lost all feeling was perswaded she was dead and called in his next neighbors telling them in what case he found her but concealing unto them the shrewd blowes he had given her the neighbors left the house the master and mistresse caused her to be laid out so left her and went to their rest but towards the morning hearing some body to stir and grone in the chamber they found their servant removed and laid in her bed at which the good man much amazed asked her in the name of God being late dead how came she so soon recovered to whom she answered Oh master master why have you beaten me thus the man reporting this amongst his neighbors one amongst the rest said if this be true she is then doubtlesse a Witch and one of these extasists at which the Master growing suspitious urged her so strictly that she confessed though her body was there present yet her soul was abroad at the assembly of divers Witches with many other mischiefs for which she was held worthy of death and judged At Burdegall in the year 1571 when there was a decree made in France against the strict prosecution of Witches an old Sorceresse of that place amongst many horrid and fearfull things confessed by her she was convicted and imprisoned where D. Boletus visited her desiring to be eie-witnesse of some of those things before by her acknowledged to whom the Witch answered That she had not power to do any thing in prison But desirous to be better satisfied concerning such things he commanded her for the present to be released and brought out of the Goale to another lodging