Judges called the Areopagitae when they deprehended a Witch and were to deliver her to death if she were with child staied the execution till she were delivered of her Infant because they would not punish the innocent with the delinquent Aelian de var. Histor lib. 5. The Law to punish Witches amongst the Persians was to bring them to a place where their heads were beaten to pieces betwixt two Rocks So suffered Gyge the hand-maid to Parisatides the mother of Cyrus Plutarch in Artaxerxes Charls the seventh King of France or the Frenchmen caused Prince Egidius de Roxa Marshall of France to be first hanged then burnt because he confessed himselfe to be a Witch and professor of Magick and withall to have been the death of an hundred and twenty children and women great with child A Witch of Avern was burnt alive for killing young infants and salting their flesh and putting them into pies and baking them for publique sale Fulgos lib. 9. cap. 2. Johannes Bodinus lib. Mag. Demonomaniae 4. cap. 5. tels us that there is a Law sacred in France that if any Magician or Witch or Soothsaier or Mathematician that shall go beyond the true rules of Astrology or expounder of Dreams shall frequent the Court be he never so great in favor or potent in office he shall be immediately degraded from all his honours and put to the rack and torture And this Law is fitting saith he to be writ in golden Characters upon every Court gate because there is no greater Pest extant to Prince or people then this viperous brood therefore above our Christian Princes he commends the Ethnick Kings In the time of Marius an Inchantress whose name was Martha who pretended to foretell to the Roman Senat the successe of the Cimbrian war was banished Plutarch in Mario Claudius Caesar condemned a Knight of Rome to death and forfeited all his goods to the people because he wore about him a Cocks egge as a Charm to dispence of Religion and that all the causes which he had in controversie should in despight of the Judges paste of his side Even fellowes that were scarce of any name or opinion in the world that were but suspected of Negromancy were condemned to death under Tiberius Caesar The Emperor Caracalla adjudged all such as but used inchanted herbs to the curing of Agues and Feavers Spartian in Caracalla The Scripture saith Thou shalt not suffer a Witch to live Bodinus contrary to Wyerius who will scarce beleeve there be any such accounting all those Judges 〈◊〉 condemn them to the Stake or Gallowes no better then Executioners and Hangmen he shewes divers probable Reasons why they ought not to live The first is Because all Witches renounce God and their Religion now the Law of God saith Whosoever shall forsake the God of Heaven and adhere to any other shall be stoned to death which punishment the Hebrews held to be the greatest could be inflicted R. Maymon lib. 3. The second thing is That having renounced God and their Religion they curse blaspheme and provoke the Almighty to anger The law saith Whosoever shall blaspheme their sin shall remain with them and whosoever shall take his name in vain or in contempt shall be punished with death The third thing is That they plight faith and make covenant with the Devil adore him sacrifice unto him as Apâ—lâ—ius testifies of Pamphila Larissana a Witch of Thessaly as liâ—ewise a Witch of the Laodunensian suburbs in the month or May 1578. who blushed not to do the like before many witnesses now the Law saith Who that shall but incline or bow down to Images which the Greeks call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shall be punished with death The Hebrew word 〈◊〉 and the Chaldaean Fisgud which all our Latine Interpreters translate Adorare imports as much as to incline or worship now these Witches do not only incline unto him but invoke and call upon him A fourth thing is which many have confessed That they have vowed their children to the Devil now the Law saith God is inflamed with revenge against all such as shall offer their children unto Moloch which Josephus interprets Priapus and Philo Satanus but all agree that by Moloch in signified the Devill and malignant spirits A fifth thing is gathered out of their own confessions That they have sacrificed Infants not yet baptized to the Devill and have kill'd them by thrusting great pins into their heads Sprangerus testifies that he condemned one to the fire who confessed that she by such means had been the death of one and forty children A sixth thing is That they do not only offer children in the manner off sacrifice against which the Holy Ghost speaks That for that sin alone God will extirp and root out the people but they vow them in the womb A seventh is That they are not themselves blasphemers and Idolaters only but they are tied by covenant with the Devil to allure and perswade others to the like abominations when the Law teacheth That whosoever shall perswade another to renounce his Creator shall be stoned to death An eighth is That they not only call upon the Devil but swear by his name which is directly against the Law of God which forbids us to swear by any thing save his own Name A ninth is That adulterate incests are frequent amongst them for which in all ages they have been infamous and of such detectable crimes convicted so that it hath almost grown to a Proverb No Magician or Witest but was either begot and born of the father and daughter or the mother and son which Caâ—ullas in this Distick expresseth Nam Magus ex Matre gnato gignatur oportet Si vera est Prâ—sarum impia Religio Infimating that if the impious Religion of the Persians were true Witches of necessity should be the incestuous issue of the mother and son or else è contra A tenth That they are Homicides and the murtherere of Infants which Sprangerus observes from their own confessions and Baptista Porta the Neapolitan in his book de Magia Next That they kill children before their baptism by which circumstances their offence is made more capitall and heinouâ— The eleventh That Witches eat the flesh of Infants and commonly drink their bloods in which they take much delight To which Horace seems to allude when he saith Nâ—u pransae Lamiae vinum pucrum extrahat Alvo Noâ— from the stomack of a Witch new din'd Plucks he a yet live infant If children be wanting they dig humane bodies from their sepulchers or feed upon them that have been executed To which purpose Lucaâ— writes Liqueam nodosque nocentes Ore 〈…〉 corpora carpsit Abrasit 〈◊〉 c. The Felons strongling 〈◊〉 she nothing fears But with her teeth the fatall Knot she tears The hanging bodies from the 〈◊〉 she takes And shaves the Gallowes of which dust she makes c. Apuletus reports That comming
by his keeper was brought to horse his dam but in the action the cloth falling from his eies and he perceiving what he had done presently seised upon his keeper and slew him in detestation of the act he had committed and to revenge himselfe upon him that had betraied him to the deed The like the same author reports of a horse belonging to a King of Scythia who could by no means be brought to cover his dam but being in the same fashion beguiled and the cloath falling away and perceiving what he had done never left bounding flinging and galloping till comming unto an high rock he from thence cast himselfe headlong into the sea If this sinne be so hatefull in brute beasts and unreasonable creatures how much more ought it to be avoided in men and women and which is more Chrisioans Cyborea the mother of Judas Iscariot THis that I now speak of is remembred by Ranulphus Monke of Chester Jerome and others There was a man in Jerusalem by name Râ—uben of the Tribe of Isachar his wife was called Cyborea The first night of their marriage the women dreamed that she was conceived of a sonne who should be a traytor to the Prince of his own people she told it to her husband at which they were both sad and pensive The child being born and they not willing to have it slain and yet loath to have it prove such a monster to his own nation they in a small boat cast it to sea to try a desperate fortune This vessell was diven upon an Island called Iscariot where the Queen of that place had then no child This babe being found she purposed to make it her own and put it to be nobly nursed and educated calling his name Judas and Iscariot of the Island where he was taken up But not long after she was conceived of a son who proving a noble and hopefull Gentleman Iudas whose favour in Court began to wane and his hope of inheritance which but late flourishe now quite to wither he plotted against his life and privately slew him but fearing lest the murder in time might be discovered and he compell'd to suffer according to the nature or the fact he fled thence to Jerusalem where he got into the service of Pontius Pilatus and found means to be protected by him being then in the City Deputy Governour of the Romans Iudas because their dispositions were much of one condition grew into his especiall familiarity and favour The Palace of Pilat having a faire bay window whose prospect was into Râ—ubâ—ns Orchard he had a great appetite to eat of some of those ripe Apples which shewed so yellow and faire against the Sun This Iudas understanding promised him to fetch him some of that fruit and mounting over the Orchard wall he was met by his father who rebuking him for the injury Iudas with a stone beat out his brains and unseen of any conveied himselfe back Reubens death was smothered and the murderer not known Cyborea being a rich widow Pilate made a march betwixt her and his servant Iudas who being married to his mother was now possest of his own fathers inheritance Not long this incestuous couple had lived together but Cyborea being upon a time wondrous sad and melancholy and Iudas demanding the cause she began to relate to him her many misfortunes First of her dream them of her son in what manner he was put to sea then how she lost her husband being slain and the murderer not found and lastly how by the authority of Pilat she was now compell'd to match against her will who had protested to her selfe a lasting widdowhood By these circumstances Judas most assuredly knew that he had slain his father and had married his mother which acknowledging to her she perswaded him to repent him of these great evils and to become a Disciple of Jesus who was then an eminent prophet amongst he Jewes It shall nor be amisse to speak a word or two or Pilat It is said that a King whose name was Tyrus begat him on a Millers daughter Lyla whose father was called Aâ—us who from his mother and grand-father was called Pylatus at four years of age he was brought to his father who by his lawfull wife had a Prince just of the same age These were brought up together in all noble exercises in which the Prince having still the best Pilat awaited his opportunity and slew him loath was the King to punish him with death lest he should leave himselfe altogether issulesse therefore he sent him an hostage to Rome for the paiment of certain tribute which was yearly to be tendred into the Roman treasury Living there as hostage he associated himselfe with the son to the King of France who lay pledge in Rome about the like occasion and in a private quarrell was also slain by Pilat The Romans finding him of an austere brow and bloody disposition made him governour of the Island called Pontus the people were irregular and barbarous whom by his severity he reduced to all civill obedience for which good service he was removed to Jerusalem bearing the name of Pontius from that Island there he gave sentence against the Saviour of the world Tiberius Caesar being then Emperor was sick of a grievous malady who hearing that in Jerusalem was a Prophet who with a word healed all infirmities whatsoever he sent one Volutianus to Herod to send him this man but Christ was before condemned and crucified There Volutianus acquainted himselfe with one Veronica a noble Lady of the Jewes who went with him to Rome and carried with her the linnen cloth which still bore the impresse and likeness of Christs visage upon which the Emperour no sooner looked but he was immediately healed The Emperor then understanding the death of this innocent and just man caused Pilat to be brought to Rome who being called before Caesar the history saith he had at that time upon him the robe of our Saviour which was called Tunica insutilis a garment without seam which whilst it was about him nothing could be objected against him to his least dammage or disgrace this was three times proved and he still came off unaccused but when by the advise of this Veronica and other Christians the garment was took off he was then accused for causing guiltlesse men to be slain for erecting statues of strange nations in the Temple against the ordinances of the Jewes that with mony wrested and extorted from the holy treasures he had made a water-conduit to his own house that he kept the Vestments and sacred robes of the Priests in his own house and would not deliver them for the service of the Temple without mercenary hire of these and other things being convicted he was sent to prison where borrowing a knife to pare an apple he slew himselfe his body after was fastned to a great stone and cast into the river Tiber. Of Adulteresses FRom the Incestuous I proceed
Theophrasius the Princes of the Philosophers in their age most constantly affirm the transmigration of Witches into Wolves Gasper Peucerus an approved learned man and the Cousen german to Philip Melancthon held these things to be meer fables till by Merchants of worthy reputation and credit he was better informed from certain proofes brought him from Livonia of such that for the same fault were upon their own confessions adjudged to death These and greater are confirmed by Languetus Burgundus Agent for the Duke of Saxonie with the King of France as also by Herodotus Neurios who affirms these conversions and 〈◊〉 shapes to be most frequent in Livonia In the History of 〈◊〉 Tritemius you may read Anno 970. of a Jew called Baranus the son of Simeon who could transform himself into Wolfe at his own pleasure Of the like to these Herodotus Homer Pomponius Mela Solinus Strabo Dionysius Afer 〈◊〉 Virgil Ovid and many others have written long before these times as likewise Epanthes remembred by Pliny and Agrippas in his Olympionicis who speaks of one Demaenetius Parrhasius translated into a Wolfe Or who so would be better confirmed let him read Olaus Magnus of the Nations of Pilapia Narbonia Fincladia and Augermania or else Saxo Grammatius Fincelius and Gulielmus Brabantius And therefore those things are not altogether incredible which Ovid speaks of Lyâ—aâ—n who included much truth in many 〈◊〉 who in his Metamorphosis thus saies Territus ipse fugit noctuque silentia runis Exululat 〈◊〉 que loqui conatur c. Frighted he fliâ—s and having got The silence of the shades Thinking to speak he â—owls and then The neighbour floâ—ks invades So much for monstrous Wolves I come now to meer Witches Saint Augustine in his book de Civitate Dei lib. 18. capâ— 17. and 18. tels of divers hostesses or Inkâ—epers practised in these diabolicall Arts who put such coâ—â—ections into a kind of Cheese they made that all such travellers as guested with them and eat thereof we â—â—presently metamorphosed into labouring beasts as Horses Asses Oxen all which they imploied either in drawing or bearing of burdens or else let them out for Hacknies to gain profit by their hire and when their work was done and they had made of them what benefit they could they restored them to their pristine shape Ranulphus and Gulielmus de Regib lib. 20. relates a History of two such Witches that lived in the road way to Rome A Minstrel or Piper travelling that way tasted of this cheese and was presently changed into an Asse who notwithstanding he had lost his shape still retained his naturall reason and as one Banks here about this City taught his horse to shew tricks by which he got much monie so this Asse being capable of what was taught him and understanding what he was bid to do shewed a thousand severall pleasures almost impossible to be apprehended by any unreasonable creature to all such as came to see him and paid for the sight insomuch that he was sold by these Witches to a neighbour of theirs for a great sum of monie but at the delivery of him saith one of the Witches Take heed neighbor if you mean to have good of your beast that in any case you lead him not through the water The poor transhaped Piper this hearing apprehends that water might be the means to restore him to his former humane figure purposing in himselfe to make proof thereof at his next best opportunity Carefull was the new Merchant of the charge given and watered him still in a pail but would never let him drink from the river but the Master travelling by the way and to ease his beast alighting and leading him in his hand the Asse on the sudden broke his bridle ran out of sight and leaped into the next river he came neer where leaving his saddle and furniture behind he waded out in his own shape the man pursues him with all the speed he can and followes him the way he took the first he meets is the Piper and asks him if he saw not such a kind a beast and describes him to a hair The fellow acknowledgeth himselfe to have been the same Asse he bought of the Witch the Master wondreth and relates this to his Lord his Lord acquaints this novell to Petrus Damianus a man of approved knowledge and wisdome and numbred amongst the greatest scholers of his age he examines the Master the Piper the Witches and such as saw him leap into the river a Beast and return a man and informs Pope Leo the seventh thereof All their examinations and confessions were taken and a disputation of the possibility thereof held in the presence of the Pope before whom the truth thereof was acknowledged and recorded The same History is told by Viacentius in Speculo lib. 3. cap. 109. and Fulgentius lib. 8. cap. 11. We read in Gulielmus Archbishop of Tyrus whom Sprangerus the great Inquisitor cities to the same purpose An English souldier being in Cyprus was by a Witch transformed into an Asse and when all his mates went on Ship-board he following them as loath to lose their fellowship was by his own friends and Country men that gave him lost beaten back with clubs and staves They put to Sea without him he having no other owner returned back to the Witches house that had transhaped him who imploied him in all her drugeries till at length he came into the Church when the Bishop was at divine service and fel on his knees before the Altar and began to use such devout gestures as could not be imagined to proceed from a bruit beast this first bred admiration and then suspition The Witch was called before the Judges examined and convicted after condemned to the stake having before restored him to his former shape after three years transformation Answerable to this we read of Ammonius the Philosopher of the Sect of the Peripatericks who hath left recorded That an Asse came usually into his school at the time of reading and with great attention listned to his Lecture Merchants have delivered that nothing is more frequent in Aegypt then such transhapes insomuch that Bellonius in his observations printed at Lutetia saith That he himselfe in the suburbs of Cair a great City in Aegypt saw a Comedian that desired conference with the Asse that he himselfe rode on who wondering what he then intended gave him liberty of free discourse where they seemed to talke with great familiarity as having been before acquainted where the Asse by his actions and signs seemed to apprehend whatsoever was spoken to him when the one protested with the hand upon his breast the other would strike the ground with his foot and when the man had spoke as if he had told some jeast the Asse would bray aloud as if he had laughed heartily at the conceit appearing to him not only to apprehend and understand whatsoever was spoken but to make answer to such
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
full power and vertue therefore Dante the famous Italian Poet thus writes Come la neve al sole se distilla Cosi al vento nelle soglie leve Si perdea la sententia de Sybille I cannot here pretermit Ovids expression of this Sybill who when Aeneas having received from her that great curtesie to enter Hell and to come safe thence and for that would have sacrificed to her and done her divine adoration she thus answered him Nec dea sum dixit nec sacri thuris honore c. I am no goddesse goddesse sonne 't is true Nor are these divine honours to me due I had been such and darknesse not have seen Had I a prostitute to Phoebus been For whilst he courts my love and day by day Hopes with large gifts mine honour to betray Ask what thou wilt oh bright Cumaean maid It shall be granted thee Apollo said Iâ— willing that my daies should ever last Prostrate upon the earth my selfe I cast And graspt as much dust as my hand could hold Let me then live said I till I have told So many years as there are bodies small Lockt in this hand The god could not recall Nor I unsay I had forgot in truth To insert in my rash boon All years of youth Even that too to have yielded to his will I might have had but I a virgin still Have to this houre remain'd my happier daies Are all forespent Decrepit age now laies His weak hand on me which I must endure Long time to come seven ages I am sure Are past nor shall my thread of life be spun Vntill the number of these sands be run The houre shall be when this my body here Shall small or nothing to the sight appear This time and age have power to doe and when I shall not lovely seem as I did then Nay doubtlesse Phoebus will himselfe deny That e'r he cast on me an amorous eie Save by my voice I shall no more be known But that the fates have left me as mine own Ovid hath fabulated that she was changed into a Voice the word Sybilla importing Vox She prophesied much of the Roman wars and the successe of their Empire Sybilla Hellespontica SHe hath the denomination of Marrinensis and as most Authors affirme derives her selfe Ex agro Trojano from Troy in Asia She sung of the wars betwixt the Trojans and the Greeks I will be briefe with her because I fear I have been too tedious in the former her Prophesie of Christ I have included in these few lines When Atlas shoulders shall support a star Whose ponderous weight he never felt before The splendour of it shall direct from far Kings and Wise men a new light to adore Peace in those daies shall flourish and stern war Be banisht earth lost mankind to restore Then shall the Eastern Monarchs presents bring To one a Priest a Prophet and a King And so much for Sybilla Hellespontica Sybilla Phrygia SHe was called Vates Ancirrae and as most will have it this was Cassandra the daughter of King Priamus and Hecuba their female issue are thus numbred Creusa Cassandra Ilione Laodice Lycaste Medesicastis Polixena Climene Aristomache Xenodice Deimone Metioche Pisis Cleodice and Medusa Amongst which she only attained to the spirit of Prophesie and predicted of the destruction of Troy but her Augurie was never credited Apollodorus as also Higinus gives this reason Apollo inflamed with her beauty promised if she would prostitute her selfe to his pleasure he would inspire her with the spirit of Divination which he accordingly performed but she failing in her promise to him he in revenge of that injury caused that her Prophesies howsoever true should never have credit which makes her in her divination thus complain The world to Troy I sitly may compare Erected first by Neptune and the Sunne These two the aptest Hieroglyphicks are For water and for fire The buildings done Laomedon their right the gods denies For which by water Troy was first destroi'd So was the world for mans false perjuries In the great Deluge where but eight enjoi'd The benefit of life Troy happy were If it by water could forewarned be So were the world but oh too much I feare In their like fatall ruin they agree Troy must be burnt to ashes woe the while My mother in her womb conceiv'd a brand To give it flame he that shall many a mile Travell by water to bring fire to land Lust is the fuell Lust and other sinnes Are the combustible stuffe will bring to naught The worlds great fabrick since from them begins All desolation first to mankind brought The world like Troy must burn they both before Suffered by water so they must by fire We Prophesie these things what can we more But after our predictions none inquire Vnlesse in scorn This doth Cassandra grieve To speak all truth when none will truth beleeve The better to illustrate this Oracle know that Laomedon about to build the wals of Troy borrowed much coine of the Priests of Neptune and Phoebus to accomplish the work upon promise of due paiment when the wals were finished But breaking his faith and denying â—estitution of those sums lent the gods inraged at his perjury Neptune brought up his wave so high that he in a deluge utterly destroi'd the City whilst Apollo by the scorching of his beams made the upper Countries barren For the burning of Troy it hapned after the ten years siege elaborately described by Virgil in his Aenâ—idos when Aeneas discourses the whole desolation of the City to Dido in which he speaks of the Prince Chorebus to be much inamoured of Cassandra who rescued her when she was dragg'd by the haire from Apollo's Altar and was slain in the attempt The death of Cassardia is thus reported by Higinus in Fabulus when the spoiles and prisoners of Troy were divided amongst the Princes of of Greece Cassandra fell by lot to the Arch-Duke and Generall Agamemnon with whom he safely arrived in Mycene of which place he was King and governour But Clitemnestra the daughter of Tindarus sister to Hellen and wife to Agamemnon being before their landing possest by Oâ—aces or as some call him Cethus the brother of Palamedes that Cassandra was the prostitute of Agamemnon and had supplanted her from his love which lie he had forged to be revenged of the Generall for his brothers death before Troy Clitemnestra therefore surprized with jealousie complotted with Aegistus the son of Thiestas to murder them both the first might they lodged in the Pallace which was accordingly performed but Electra the daughter of Agamemnon stole thence her brother Orâ—stes then but an infant who else had perished with his father and conveied him to be safe kept to one Sthophius of Phocis who had before been married to Astichaa the sister of Agamemnon he brought him up to manhood till Orestes found fit opportunity to revenge himself on the two Regicides his mother and Aegistus Sybilla Europaea SHe
The Queen of women and the best of Queens whose magnanimity in war and gentlenesse in peace resolution in the one and generous affability in the other have so sweet a correspondence that when the Canon roared loud at the gates and the bullet forced a passage even through the Palace where she lodged was no more danted in courage nor dismaied in countenance then when the gentle and soft musick melodiously sounded at the celebration of her espousâ—ls Sacred Oh Princely Lady for ever be your memory and fortunate and happy your hopefull posterity may your womb prove a bed of souldiers and your breasts the nursery of Kings may the sons victories redeem the losses or the father and the daughters surmount the fertility of their mother may your future fortunes be answerable to your former vertues that as you have the earnest praiers of all good men so you may have the successe of their wishes which millions that never yet saw you desire but all that understand you know you worthily deserve And to conclude that as you are the last of these in this my Catalogue by order posterity may reckon you the first amongst the Illustrious by merit Of divers Ladies famous for their Modesty OH thou chastity and purity of life thou that art the ornament as well of man as woman from whence shall I invoke thee thou diddest first help to kindle the sacred fires of Vesta where virginity was made Religion Thou that was wont to frequent the chambers of great Ladies with sinlesse and undefiled hands make the beds of the City Matrons and to be obsequious about the Pallats strowed in the Countrie Cottages where I shall find thee now to direct this my pen in her large and unbounded progresse or to tutor me so far that I may know what on this argument thou thy selfe wouldest have done Livy Florus Plutarch and others speaking of the wonder of the Roman chastity Lucretia accuse fortune or nature of error for placing such a manly heart in the breast of a woman who being adulterated by Sextua Tarquinius after she had sent to her friends and to them complained her injuries because she would not live a by-word to Rome nor preserve a despoiled body for so noble a husbands embraces with a knife which she had hid under her garment for the same purpose in presence of them all slew her selfe which was after the cause that the tyrannicall Monarchy of Rome was transferr'd into a Consular dignity Armenia the wife of Tygranes having been with her husband at a sumptuous banquet made by King Cyrus in his Palace Roiall when every one extoll'd the majestie and applauded the goodlinesse of the Kings person at length Tygranes askt his Queen what her opinion was of his magnitude and person She answered I can say nothing Sir for all the time of the Feast mine eies were stedfastly fixt upon you my dear husband for what other mens beauties are it becomes not a married wife to enquire Cornelia the wife of Aemilius Paulus when a great Lady of Campania came to her house and opening a rich casket as the custome of women is to be friendly one with another she shewed her gold rings rich stones and jewels and causing her chests to be opened exposed to her view great variety of costly and pretious garments which done she intreated Cornelia to do her the like curlesie and to shew her what jewels and ornaments she had stored to beautifie her selfe which hearing she protracted the time with discourse till her children came from school and causing them to be brought before her turned unto the Lady and thus said These be my jewels my riches and delights nor with any gayer ornaments desire I to be beautified Fâ—â—i bonae indolis parentum lauta supellex Viz. No domestick necessaries better grace a house then children witty and well disposed Many have been of that continence they have imitated the Turtle who having once lost her mate will ever mourn but never enter into the fellowship of another Therefore Ania Romana a woman of a Noble family having buried her first husband in her youth when her friends and kinred continually laid open the solitude of widdowhood the comfort of society and all things that might perswade her to a second marriage she answered It was a motion to which she would by no means assent For saith she should I happen upon a good man such as my first husband was I would not live in that perpetuall feare I should be in lest I should lose him but if otherwise Why should I hazard my selfe upon one so had that am so late punisht with the losse of one so good It is reported of Portia Minor the daughter of Cato That when a woman who had married a second husband was for many vertues much commended in her presence Peace saith she That woman can neither be happy well manner'd nor truly modest that will a second time time marry But I hold her in this too censorious yet the most ancient Romans only conferred on her the Crown of modesty and continence that was contented with one matrimony as making expression of their uncorrupted sincerity in their continued widdowhood Especially such were most discommended to make choice of a second husband who had children left them by the first resembling their father To which Virgil in the fourth book of his Aeneid seems elegantly to allude Dido thus complaining of the absence of Aeneas Siqua mihi de te suscepta fuisset Ante fugam soboles c. Had I by thee any issue had Before thy slight some pretty wanton lad That I might call Aeneas and to play And prate to me to drive these thoughts away And from whose smiling countenance I might gather A true presentment of the absent father I should not then my wretched selfe esteem So altogether lost as I now seem Plutarch much commends the widdowhood of Cornelia the illustrious mother of the Gracchi whose care having nobly provided for her children and family after the death of her husband she exprest her selfe every way so absolute a matron that Tiberius Gracchus of whom we spake before was not ill counselled by the gods by preserving her life to prostrate his own for she denied to marry with King Ptolomeus and when he would have imparted to her a diadem and a Scepter she refused to be stiled a Queen to keep the honour of a chast widdow Or the like purity was Valeria the sister of Mssâ—lar who being demanded by her kinred and deerest friends why her first husband dead she made not choice of a second answered that she found her first husband Servius to live with her still accounting him alive to her whom she had ever in remembrance A singular and remarkable sentence proceeding from a most excellent matron intimating how the sacred unity in wedlock ought to be dignified namely with the affections of the mind not the vain pleasures
of the body This was proved in the Daughter of Democion the Athenian who being a virgin and hearing that Leosthenes to whom she was contracted was slain in the Lemnian wars and not willing to survive him killed her selfe but before her death thus reasoning with her self Though I have a body untoucht yet if I should fall into the embraces of another I should but have deceived the second because I am still married to the first in my heart Not of their minds was Popilia the daughter of Marcus who to one that wondred what should be the reason why all feminine beasts never admitted the act of generation but in their time and when they covet issue and woman at all times desires the company of man thus answered the reason is only this Because they are beasts The wife of Fulvius THis Fulvius the familiar and indeered friend of Augustus Caesar heard him privately complain of the great solitude that was then in his house since two of his grand-children by his daughter were taken away by death and the only third that remained was for some calumnies publisht against the Emperour now in exile so that he should be forced to abandon his own blood and constitute a son in law and a stranger to succeed in the Imperiall purple and therefore he had many motins in himselfe and sometimes a purpose to recall the young mans banishment and to restore him to his favour and former grace in the Court This Fulvius hearing went home and upon promise of secresie told it to his wife she could not contain her selfe but makes what speed she can and tels this good newes to the Empresse Livia Livia she speeds to Augustus and briefly expostulates with him about the banishment of her grand-child and what reason he had not to restore him to his former honors and why he would prefer a stranger before his own blood with many such like upbraidings The next morning Fulvius comming as his custome was into the Presence and saluting the Emperor Augustus cast an austere look upon him and shaking his head said only thus You have a close breast Fulvius by this he perceiving his wife had publisht abroad what he had told her in secret posts home with what speed he can and calling his wife before him O woman saith he Augustus knowes that I have revealed his secret therefore I have a resolution to live no longer to whom she replied Neither is that death you threaten to your selfe without merit who having lived with me so long and known my weaknesse and loquacity had not the discretion to prevent this danger to which you have drawn your selfe by tempting my frailty but since you will needs die it shall be my honour to precede you in death which she had no sooner spoke but snatcht out his sword and with it slew her selfe A noble resolution in an heathen Lady to punish her husbands disgrace and her own oversight with voluntary death and a notable example to all women that shall succeed her to be more chary in keeping their husbands secrets all which I would wish to follow the counsell of the comick Poet Philippides who when King Lysimachus called him unto him and using him with all curtesie spake thus What of the things that are within or without me shall I impart unto thee O Philippides he thus answered Even what thou pleasest O King so thou still reservest to thy selfe thy counsels This puts me in mind of King Seleucus Callinicus who having lost a battell against the Galatians and his whole army being quite subverted and dispersed casting away his Crown and all regall ornaments was forced to flie only attended with two or three servants and wandering along through many deserts and by-paths as fearing to be discovered and growing faint with hunger he came to a certain ruinate cottage where he desired bread and water the master of the house not only afforded him that but whatsoever else the place could yield or the suddennesse of the time provide with a large welcome In the interim of dinner fixing his eys upon Seleucus face he knew him to be the King and not able to contain his own joies nor conceal the Kings dissimulation after dinner the King being ready to take horse and bidding his host farewell he replied again And farewell O King Seleucus who finding himselfe discovered reached him his his hand as to imbrace him beckoning to one of his followers who at the instant at one blow stroke off his head so that as Homer Sic caput estque adhuc cum pulvere mistum These were the fruits of unseasonable babling for this fellow had he kept his tongue till the King had been restored to his former dignities might have received large rewards for his hospitality who suffered an unexpected death for his loquacity Arctaphila ARetaphila Cyrenaea is deservedly numbred amongst the heroick Ladies she lived in the time of Mithridates and was the daughter of Aeglatur and the wife of Phedimus a woman of excellent Vertue exquisit Beauty singular Wisedom and in the managing of the Common-weals business and civill affairs ingeniously expert this Lady the common calamities of her Country made eminent for Nicocaentes the Tyrant having usurped the principality over the Cyrenaeans amongst many other of his humane butcheries slew Menalippus the Priest of Apollo and assumed to himselfe the sacred office and dignity In the number of these noble Citizens he caused Phedimus the wife of Aretaphila to be injuriously put to death and married her against her will who as well distrest with her private discontents as suffering in the publique calamity meditated a remedy for both and by advise of some of her neerest allies attempted to poison the King but the project being discovered was prevented and upon that ground Calbia mother to Nicocrates a woman of an unplacable spirit and prone to any thing wherein there might be blood and slaughter first condemned her to insufferable torture and next to a violent death but the tyrant her son in regard of the extraordinary love he bore unto her being the more relenting and humane of the two was pleased to put her cause first to examination and after to censure In which triall she answered boldly and with great courage in the defence of her own innocence but being by manifest proofs convicted insomuch that her purpose could not be denied she then descended so low as to excuse her selfe alledging that indeed apprehending the greatnesse of his person and that she was in degree no better to him then an bandmaid and fearing lest some other more accomplisht beauty might step betwixt him and her to insinuate into his favour and grace she therfore had prepared an amatorious confection minding only to continue his love not to betray his life and if her womanish weaknesse had in any kind through ignorance transgrest the bounds of Ioialty she submitted her selfe to his â—oiall clemency whose approved judgement she made no
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
Tyrants wife to prevent their fury made fast her dore and in her private chamber strangled her selfe Aristotemus had two beautifull young virgins to his daughters both marriageable these they were about to drag into the streets with purpose to destroy them but first to excruciate them with all disgraces and contumacies Which Megisto seeing with her best oratory appeased their present fury proposing to them how shamefull a thing it were for a noble and free state to imitate the insolencies of a bloody and inhumane tyranny liberty therefore was granted the young Damosels at her intercession to retire themselves into their chambers and to make choice of what death best suited with their present fears Myro the elder sister unloosing from her wast a silken girdle fastned it about her own neck and with a smiling and chearfull look thus comforted the younger My sweet and dear sister I more commiserate thy fate then lament mine own yet imitate I intreat thee my constancy in death lest any abject thing or unworthy may be objected against us unagreeable with our blood and quality To whom the younger replied That nothing could appeare more terrible to her then to behold her die therefore besought her by the affinity of sisterhood to be the first that should make use of that girdle and dying before her to leave to her an example of resolution and patience Myro to her made answer I never denied thee any thing sweet soule in life neither will I oppose thee in this thy last request at thy death and for thy sake will I indure that which is more grievous to me then mine own death namely to see thee die When accommodating all things for the present execution she no sooner saw her dead but she gently laid her out and with great modesty covered her Then she besought Megisto on her knees to have a care of them in their deaths that nothing immodest or uncomely might be done to their bodies which granted she not only with courage but seeming joy underwent her fate till she expired nor was there any spectator there present to whom the memory of the tyrant was never so hatefull from whose eies and hearts this object did not extract tears and pity In Megisto is exprest the Magnanimity of spirit but in these following I will illustrate Fortitude in action The Turks busied in the siege of some Towns in Catharo Vluzales and Carocossa two of no mean place and eminence among them wrought so far with the great Admirall that he delivered into their charge the managing of threescore Gallies with munition and men in number competent to make incursions into the bordering Islands then under the State of Venice These two Turkish Captains land their forces before Curzala a City that gives name to the Countrie with purpose invest themselves before it which Antonius Contarinus then Governour of the City understanding like a timeâ—ous and fearfull coward taking the advantage of the night fled with his souldiers thence not leaving the Town any way deâ—ensible which the Citizens understanding all or the most followed after The Town thus left to the weak guard of some twenty men and about fourescore women the Turks give them a bold and fierce assault when these brave viragoes chusing rather to die like souldiers then like their husbands run like cowards some maintaine the Ports others defend the wals and with that noble resolution that what with fire stones scâ—lding water and such like muniments then readiest at hand so opposed the assailants that many of the Turks in that conflict were slain and all repulst retiring themselves with purpose some rest given to the souldiers to salute them with a fresh alarum But fortune was so favourable to these Amazonian spirits that a mighty tempest from the North so cost and distrest the Turks Gallies that they were forced to abandon the Island to dishonour leaving to the besieged a memory worthy to outlive all posterity Of Dido Cesara Gumilda and Ethelburga OF Dido Queen of Carthage all Authors agree to have falne by the sword and to have died by her own bold resolute hand but about the cause that moved her thereto divers differ Ausonius is of opinion That her husband Sychaeus being dead she did it to preserve her viduall chestity and so free her selfe from the importunities of Hyarbus King of Getulia of his mind is Marullus and of these Remnius or as some will have it Priscianus in the Geography of Dionysius writing De scitu orbis i. the Scituation of the world Contrary to these is the Prince of Poets he whom Scaâ—ger cals Poeta noster Pub Virgilius who ascribes her death to an impatience of grief conceived at the unkind departure of Aeneas which though it carry no great probability of truth yet all the Latine Poets for the most part in honour of the author have justified his opinion as Ovid in his third book De fâ—stis his Epistles Metamorph. and others works so likewise Angelus Politianus in his Mâ—nto with divers others Just ne in his eighteenth book of Histor speaking of the first erecting of Carthage saith That where they began to dig with purpose to lay the first foundation they found the head of an Oxe by which it was predicted that the City should be futurely fertill and commodious but withall full of labour and subject to perpetuall servitude therefore they made choice of another peece of earth where in turning up the mould they chanced upon the head of a horse by which it was presaged their Collony should in time grow to be a warlike nation fortunate and victorious In what manner she died I refer you to Virgil and will speak a word or two of her sister Anna the daughter of Belus She after the death of her sister forsaking of the City of Carthage then invested with siege by Hyarbus fled to Battus King of the Island Mâ—lita but making no long sojourn there she put again to sea and fell upon the coast of Laurentum where being well known by Aeneas she was nobly received but not without suspition of too much familiarity betwixt them insomuch that jealousie possessing Lavâ—nia the wife of Aenea she conceived an iâ—reconcilable hatâ—ed against Aâ—na insomuch that fearing her threatned displeasure she cast her selfe headlong into the river Numicus and was there drowned for so Ovid reports to his book De fastâ—s But touching the illustrious Queen Didâ— under her statue were these verses or the like engraven in a Greek character interpreted into Latiâ—e by Ausoâ—us and by me in the sacred memory of so eminent a Queen thus Englished I am that Dido look upon me well And what my life was let mâ— viâ—age tell 〈◊〉 farre and smooth what wrinckle can you find In this plain Table to expresse a mind So sordid and corrupt Why then so uneven And black a soule should to a face be given That promiseth all vertue 〈◊〉 where Begott'st thou those all thoughts that
have indeed no Law which gives licence for a brother to marry with a sister but we have found a Law O Soveraigne which warrants the King of Persia to do whatsoever liketh him best Thus they without abrogation of the Persian Laws soothed the Kings humor and preserv'd their own honours and lives who had they crost him in the least of his designs had all undoubtedly perished This he made the ground for the marriage of the first and not long after he adventured upon the second The younger of these two who attended him into Egypt he slew whose death as that of her brother Smerdis is doubtfully reported The Graecians write that two whelps the one of a Lion the other of a Dog were brought before Cambyses to sight and try masteries at which sight the young Lady was present but the Lion having victory over the Dog another of the same â—itter broke his chain and taking his brothers part they two had superiority over the Lyon Cambyses at this sight taking great delight she then sitting next him upon the sudden fell a weeping this the King observing demanded the occasion of her teares she answered it was at that object to see one brother so willing to help the other and therefore she wept to remember her brothers death and knew no man then living that was ready to revenge it and for this cause say the Greeks she was doom'd to death by Cambyses The Egyptians report it another way That she sitting with her brother at table out of a sallet dish took a lettice and pluckt off leafe by leafe and shewing it to her husband asked him Whether a whole lettice or one so despoiled shewed the better who answered a whole one then said she behold how this lettice now unleaved looketh even so hast thou disfigured and made naked the house of King Cyrus With which words he was so incensed that he kicked and spurned her then being great with child with that violence that she miscarried in her child birth and died ere she was delivered and these were the murderous effects of his detestable incest Of Livia Horestilla Lollia Paulina Cesonia c. IT is reported of the Emperour Caligula that he had not onely illegall and incestuous converse with his three naturall sisters but that he after caused them before his face to be prostitued by his ministers and servants thereby to bring them within the compasse of the Aemilian Law and convict them of adultery He vitiated Livia Horestilla the wife of C. Pisonius and Lollia Paulina whom he caused to be divorced from her husband C. Memnius both whose beds within lesse then two years he repudiated withall interdicting the company and society of man for ever Caesonia he loved more affectionately insomuch that to his familiar friends as boasting of her beauty he would often shew her naked To add unto his insufferable luxuries he defloured one of the vestall virgins Neither was the Emperor Commodus much behind him in devilish and brutish effeminacies for he likewise strumpeted his own sisters and would wittingly and willingly see his mistresses and concubines abused before his face by such of his favourites as he most graced he kept not at any time lesse then to the number of three hundred for so Lampridius hath left recorded Gordianus junior who was competitioâ— with his father in the Empire kept two and twenty concubines by each of which he had three or foure children at the least therefore by some called the Priamus of his age but by others in derision the Priapus The Emperor Proculus took in battell a hundred Sarmatian virgins and boasted of himselfe that he had got them all with child in lesse then fifteen daies this Vopiscus reports and Sabellicus But a great wonder is that which Johannes Picus Mirandula relates of Hercules as that he lâ—y with fifty daughters of Lycomedes in one night and got them all with child with forty nine boies only failing in the last for that proved a girle Jocasta APollodorus Atheniensis in his third book De deorum origine records this history After the death of Amphion King of Thebes Laius succeeded who took to wife the daughter of Menocoeas called Jocasta or as others write Epicasta This Laius being warned by the Oracle that if of her he begat a son he should prove a Parricide and be the death of his father notwithstanding forgetting himselfe in the distemperature of wine he lay with her the same night she conceived and in processe brought forth a male issue whom the King caused to be cast out into the mountain Cytheron thinking by that means â—o prevent the predicted destiny Polybus the herdsman to the King of Corinth finding this infant bore it home to his wife Periboea who nursed and brought it up as her own and causing the swelling of the feet with which the child was then troubled to be cured they grounded his name from that disease and called him Oedipus This inâ—ant as he had increased in years so he did in all the perfections of nature as well in the accomplishments of the â—ind as the body insomuch that as well in capacity and volubility of speech as in all active and generous exercises he was excellent above all of his age his vertues being generally envied by such as could nor equall them they thought to disgrace him in something and gave him the contemptible name of counterfeit and bastard this made him curiously inquisitive of his supposed mother and she not able in that point to resolve him he made a journy to Delphos to consult with the Oracle about the true knowledge of his birth and parents which forewarned him from returning into his own Countrie because he was destined not only to be the deaths-man of his father but to add misery unto mischiefe he was likewise born to be incestuous with his mother Which to prevent and still supposing himselfe to be the son of Polybus and Peribaea he forbore to return to Corinth and hiring a Chariot took the way towards Phocis It hapned that in a strait and narrow passage meeting with his father Laius and Polyphontes his Charioter they contended for the way but neither willing to give place from words they fell to blowes in which contention Polyphontes kill'd one of the horses that drew the Chariot of Oedipus at which inraged he drew his sword and first slew Polyphontes and next Laius who seconded his servant and thence took his ready way towards Thebes Damasistratus King of the Plataeenses finding the body of Laius caused it to be honourably interred In this interim Creon the son of Menecoeus in this vacancy whilst there was yet no King invades Thebes and after much slaughter possesseth himselfe of the Kingdome Juno to vex him the more sent thither the monster Sphinx born of Eâ—hidna and Tiphon she had the face of a woman the wings of a fowle and the breast feet and taile of a Lion she
season till he found an opportunity to strumpet the others wiâ—e which was the cause of of a bloody and intestine war almost to the ruin of the whole City The like combustion was kindled betwixt Pardalus and Tyrrhenus upon semblant occasion Livy in the tenth book of his Decades relates that Q. Fabius Gurges son to the Consul amerced the matrons of Rome for their adulteries and extracted from them so much coin at one time as builded the famous Temple of Venus neer to the great Circus So much of the same in generall now I come to a more particular survey of the persons Of many great Ladies branded with Adultery amongst the Romans and first of Posthumia THis Posthumia was the wife of Servius Sulpitius as Lollia the wiâ—e of Aulus Gabinus Tertullia of Marcus Crassus Mutia the wife of C. Pompâ—ius Servitia the mother of Marcus Brutus Iulia the daughter of Servitia and the third wife of Marcus Crassus Furies Maura the Queen of King Bogades Cleopatra of Aegypt and after beloved of Marcus Antonius and of the Triumviraâ—e all these Queens and noble Matrons is Iulius Caesar said to have adulterated Livia the wife of Augustus Caesar was by him first strumpetted and being great with child to recompence her wrong he hastned the marriage This was objected to him in an oration by Antonius Tertullia Dâ—usilla Salvia Scribonia Tilisconia with all these noble matrons he is said to have commerce Likewise with a great Senators wife whose name is not remembred Augustus being at a publike banquet in his own palace withdrew himselfe from the table in the publick view and before the cloth was taken up brought her back again and seated her in her own place with her haire rufled her cheeks blushing and her eies troubled Messalina the wife of Claudius Tibezius first privately then publickly prostituted her selfe to many insomuch that custome grew to that habit that such as she affected and either for modesties sake or for fear durst not enter into her imbraces by some stratagem or other she caused to be murdred as Claudian saith her insatiat desires yet stretched further making choice of the most noble virgins and matrons of Rome whom she either perswaded or compelled to be companions with her in her adulteries She frequented common brothel houses trying the abilities of many choice and able young men by turns from whence it is said of her she returned wearied but not satisfied if any mâ—n refused her imbraces her revenge stretched not only to him but unto all his family And to crown her libidinous actions it is proved of her that in the act of lust she contended with a mercenary and common strumpet which in that kind should have the priority and that the Empresse in the 25 action became victor Of her Pliny Iuvenal and Sex Aurelius speaks more at large a strange patience it was in an Emperour to suffer this I rather commend that penurious fellow who having married a young wife and keeping her short both in liberty and diet she cast her eies upon a plain Country fellow one of her servants and in short time grew with child the old churle mistrusting his own weaknesse being as much indebted to his belly as to his servants for their wages for his parsimony made 〈◊〉 gâ—d to both and now fearing a further charge would come upon him he got a warrant to bring them both before a Justice They being convented and he having made his case known the Gentlewoman being asked upon divers interrogatives modestly excused her selfe but not so cleanly but that the complaint sounded in some sort just and the case apparant The Country fellow was next call'd in question to whom the justice with an austere countenance thus spake Syria 〈◊〉 resolve me truly saith he and it shall be the better for thee Hast thou got this woman with child yea or no to whom the plain fellow thus bluntly answered Yes Sir I think I have how quoth the justice thou impudent and bawdy knave shew me what reason thou hadst to get thy mistresse with child to whom the fellow replied I have served my master a very hard man so many years and I never got any thing else in his service How this businesse was compounded I know not certainly only of this I am assured that our English women are more courteous of their bodies then bloody of their minds Such was not Roman Fabia who as Plutarch in his Parallels relates was the wife of Fabius Fabricanus and gave her selfe up to a young Gentleman of Rome called Petroniuâ— Valentianus by whose counsell she after slew her husband that they might more freely enjoy their luxuries Salust and Valerius Maximus both report of Aurelia Oristilla who suffered her selfe to be corrupted by Catalin against whom Cicero made many eloquent Orations who the freelier to enjoy her bed caused her son to be poisoned Comparable to Fabia saving in murder was Thimen the wife of King of Agis who forsaking the lawful bed of her husband suffered her selfe to be vitiated by Alcibiades of Athens Martial in his Epigrams writes of one Nevina who going chast to the Bath returned thence an adulteresse of her thus speaking Incidit in Flammam veneremque secula relicto Conjuge Penelope venit abitque Helena Which is thus Englished She fell in fire and followed lust Her husband quite rejected She thither came Penelope chast Went Hellen thence detected Paula Thelesina Proculina Lectoria Gellia all these are by some authors branded for the like inchastities An Egyptian Lady I Have heard of a young Citizen who having married a pretty wanton lâ—sse and as young folke love to be dallying one with another set her upon his knee and sporting with her and pointing one of his fingers at her face now my little rogue saith he I could put out one of thine eies to whom with her two longest fingers stretched forth right and aiming at him in the like fashion she thus answered If with one finger thou put out one of mine eies with these two I will put out both yours This was but wantonnesse betwixt them and appeared better in their action then in my expression and though I speak of a blind King he lost not his eies that way Herodotus relates that after the death of Sesostris King of Egypt his son Pherâ—nes succeeded in the Kingdome who not long after his attaining to the principality was deprived of his sight The reason whereof some yeeld to be this Thinking to passe the river Nilus either by inundations or the force of the winds the waters were driven so far back that they were flowed eighteen cubits above their wonted compasse at which the King inraged shot an arrow into the river as if he would have wounded the channell Whether the gods took this in contempt or the Genius of the river was inraged is uncertain but most sure it is that not long after he lost all the use of sight
and in that darknesse remained for the space of ten years After which time in great melancholly expired he received this comfort from the Oracle which was then in the City Butis That if he washt his eies in the urine of a woman who had been married a full twelve month and in that time had in no waies falsified in her own desires nor derogated from the honour of her husband he should then assuredly receive his sight At which newes being much rejoiced and presuming both of certain and sudden cure he first sent for his wife and Qu. and made proofe of her pore distillation but all in vain he sent next for all the great Ladies of the Court and one after one washt his eies in their water but still they smarted the more yet he saw no whit the better but at length when he was almost in despaire he hapned upon one pure and chast Lady by whose vertue his sight was restored and he plainly cured who after he had better considered with himselfe caused his wife withal those Ladies saving she only by whose temperance and chastity he had reobtained the benefit of the Sun to be assembled into one City pretending there to feast them honourably for joy oâ— his late recovery Who were no sooner assembled at the place called Rubra Gleba apparelled in all their best jewels and chiefest ornaments but commanding the City gates to be shut upon them caused the City to be set on fire and sacrificed all these adulteresses as in one funerall pile reserving only that Lady of whose loialty the Oracle had given sufficient testimony whom he made the partaker of his bed and Kingdome I wish there were not so many in these times whose waters if they were truly cast by the doctors would not rather by their pollution put out the eies quite then with their clearnesse and purity minister to them any help at all Laodice JVstine in his 37. book of History speaks of this Laodice the wife and sister to Mithridates King of Pontus After whose many victories as having overthrown the Scythians and put them to flight those who had before defeated Zopyron a great Captain of Alexanders army which consisted of thirty thousand of his best souldiers the same that overcame Cyrus in battell with an army of two hundred thousand with those that had affronted and beaten King Philip in many oppositions being fortunately and with great happinesse still attended by which he more and more flourisht in power and increased in majestie In this height of fortune as never having known any disaster having bestowed some time in managing the affairs of Pontus and next such places as he occupied in Macedonia he privately then retired himselfe into Asia where he took view of the scituation of those defenced Cities and this without the jealousie or suspition of any From thence he removed himselfe into Bythinia proposing in his own imaginations as if he were already Lord of all After this long retirement he came into his own Kingdome where by reason of his absence it was rumour'd and given out for truth that he was dead At his arrivall he first gave a loving and friendly visitation to his wife and sister Laudice who had not long before in that vacancy brought him a young son But in this great joy and solemnity made for his welcome he was in great danger of poison for Laodice supposing it seems Mithridates to be dead as it before had been reported and therefore safe enough had prostituted her selfe to divers of her servants and subjects and now fearing the discovery of her adultery she thought to shadow a mighty fault with a greater mischiefe and therefore provided this poisoned draught for his welcome But the King having intelligence thereof by one of her handmaids who deceived her in her trust expiated the treason with the blood of all the conspirators I read of another Laodice the wife of Ariarythres the King of Cappadocia who having six hopefull sons by her husband poisoned five of them after she had before given him his last infectious draught the youngest was miraculously preserved from the like fate who after her decease for the people punished her cruelty with death succeeded in the Kingdome It is disputed in the Greek Commentaries by what reason or remedy affection once so devilishly setled in the breast or heart of a woman may be aâ—ered or removed or by what confection adulterous appetite once lodged and kindled in the bosome may be extinguished The Magicians have delivered it to be a thing possible so likewise Cadmus Milesius who amongst other monuments of history writ certain tractates concerning the abolishing of love for so it is remembred by Suidas in his collections And therefore I would invite all women of corrupted breasts to the reading of this briefe discourse following A remarkable example was that of Faustina a noble and illustrious Lady who though she were the daughter of Antonius Pius the Emperor and wife to Marcus Philosophus notwithstanding her fathers majesty and her husbands honour was so besotted upon a Gladiator or common fencer that her affection was almost grown to frensie for which strange disease as strange a remedy was devised The Emperor perceiving this distraction still to grow more and more upon his daughter consulted with the Chaldeans and Mathematicians in so desperate a case what was best to be done after long consideration it was concluded amongst them that there was but only one way left open to her recovery and that was to cause the fencer to be slaine which done to give her a full cup of his luke-warm blood which having drunk off to go instantly to bed to her husband This was accordingly done and she cured of her contagious disease That night was as they sad begot Antoninus Commodus who after succeeded him in the Empire who in his government did so afflict the Common-weal and trouble the Theater with fensing and prizes and many other bloody butcheries that he much better deserved the name of Gladiator then Emperor This that I have related Julius Capitolinus writes to Caesar Dioclesianus Were all our dissolute matrons to be cured by the like Phisick there would no question be amongst men lesse offenders and among women fewer patients that complained of sick stomacks Phaedima CAmbyses having before unnaturally slain his brother Smerdis by the hands of his best trusted friend Praxaspes but after the death of the King for the horridnesse of the fact the Regicide not daring to avouch the deed to the people lest it might prejudice his own safety one Smerdis a Magician whose ears Cambises had before caused to be cut off took this advantage to aspire to the Kingdome and being somewhat like in favour to the murdered Princes who was by the Souldiers generally believed to live it purchased him so many abettors such as were deluded with his impostures that he was generally saluted and crowned Emperor This was
To whom the Prince in derision thus spake Basâ— Negromancer how canst thou be my father seeing that to the mighty King Philip here present I owe all filiâ—ll duty and obedience to whom Nectenabus rehearsed all the circumstances before related from the beginning and as he concluded his speech so ended his life How the husband upon this information behaved himselfe towards his wife or the son to his mother I am not certain this I presume it was a kind of needfull policy in both the one to conceale his Câ—coldry the other his Bastardy so much of Olympias concerning the birth of her son Alâ—xander I will proceed a little further to speak of her remarkable death being as majestically glorious as the processe of her life was in many passages thereof worthily infamous Justine in his history relates thus Olympias the wife of Philip and mother of Alexander the Great coming from Epirus unto Macedonia was followed by Aeacâ—dâ—â— King of the Molossians but finding her selfe to be prohibited that Câ—untry whether annimated by the memory of her husband encouraged with the greatnesse of her son or moved with the nature of the affâ—ont and injury as she received it I am not certain but she assembled unto her all the forces of Macedoniâ— by whose power and her command they were both slaâ—â— About seven years after Alexander was possessed of the Kingdome neither did Olympias reign long after for when the murdeâ—â— of many Pâ—iâ—ces had been by her committed rather after an effâ—minate then â—egall manner it converted the favour of the multitude into an irreconcileable hatred which â—eaâ—ing and having withall intelligence of the approach of Cassander now altogether distrusting the fidelity of her own Countrymen she with her sons wife Roxana and her Nephew young Hercules retired into a City called 〈◊〉 or Pictuaâ— in this almost forsaken society were Deidamia daughter to King Aeacidus Thessalonice her own daughtâ—â— in law famous in her father King Philip's memory with diveâ—â— other Princely matrons a small train attending upon them â—ather for shew and state then either use or profit These things being in order related to Cassander he with all speed possible hastens towards the City Pictua and invests himselfe before it compassing the place with an invincible siege Olympias being now oppressed both with sword and tamine besides all the inconveniences depending upon a long and tedious war treated upon conditions in which her â—aâ—e conduct with her trains being comprehended she was willing to submit her selfe into the hands of the conquerour at whose mercy whilst her wavering fortunes yet stood Cassander convents the whole multitude and in a publick oration desires to be counselled by them how to dispose of the Queen having before suborned the parents of such whose children she had caused to be murdered who in sad and funerall habits should accuse the cruelty and inhumanity of Olympias Their tears made such a passionate impression in the breasts of the Macedonians that with loud acclamations they doomed her to present slaughter most unnaturally forgetting that both by Philip her husband and Alexander her son their lives and fortunes were not only safe amongst their neighbour nations but they were also possessed of a forrein Empire and 〈◊〉 from Provinces 〈◊〉 their times scarce heard of but altogether unknown Now the Queen perceiving armed men make towards her and approach her to the same purpose both with resolution and obstinacy she attâ—â—ed in a Princely and majestick habit and leaning in state upon the shoulders of two of her most beautifull handmaids gave them a willing and undanted meeting which the souldiers seeing and calling to mind her former state beholding her present majesty and not forgetting her roiall off-spring illustrated with the names of so many successive Kings they stood still amazed without offering her any 〈◊〉 violence til others sent thither by the command of Cassâ—nder throughly pierced her with their weapons which she 〈…〉 with such constancy that she neither offeâ—â—d 〈…〉 avoid their wounds or expresse 〈…〉 by any 〈◊〉 clamour but after the manâ—◠〈…〉 men submitted her selfe to 〈…〉 her 〈…〉 expressing the invincible spirit 〈…〉 Alexander in which she likewise shewed a singuâ—â—r 〈◊〉 for with her disheveled hair she shadowed her 〈◊〉 leâ—t in sâ—rugling between life and death it might 〈…〉 and with her garments covered her legs and 〈◊〉 lest any thing aboâ—â— her might be found uncomely 〈…〉 Cassander took to wife Thessalonice the the daughâ—â—◠〈◊〉 Aridaeus causing the son of Alexander with his 〈◊〉 Roxane to be keep prisoners in a â—ower called â—â—â—â—phipositana 〈◊〉 ABout the time 〈◊〉 the Huns came 〈◊〉 into Italy and expoiled the Longâ—hards 〈◊〉 laid 〈◊〉 to the City 〈◊〉 and in a hot assault having slain the Duke Oysulphus his wife 〈…〉 Râ—milda 〈◊〉 the Town defensible bravely and resolutely mainteined it against the enemy But as Cacana King of the Anes approached neer unto the wals encouraging his souldiers to hang up their scaling ladders and enter Romilda at the same time looking from a Cittadel cast her eie upon the King who as he seemed unto her with wondrous dexterity behaved himself and with an extraordinary grace became his arms This liking grew into an ardency in love for she that at first but allowed of his presence now was affected to his person insomuch that in the most fierce assaults though her self danger of their crosse-bows and slings she thought within the secure so she had the King her object This fire was already kindled in her breast which nothing could qualifie insomuch that impatient of all delay she sent unto her publike enemy private messengers That if it pleased the King being as she understood a batchelor to accept her as his bride she would without further opposition surrender up the Town peaceably into his hands these conditions are first debated next concluded and lastly confirmed by oath on both sides The Town is yeelded up and Cacana according to his promise takes Romilda to wife but first he makes spoile of the Town kils many and leads the rest captive The first night he bedded with his new reconciled bride but in the morning abandoned her utterly commanding twelve Huns and those of the basest of his souldiers one after another to prostitute her by turns that done he caused a sharp stake to be placed in the middle of the field and pitched her naked body upon the top thereof which entring through the same made a miserable end of her life at which sight the Tyrant laughing said Such a husband best becomes so mercilesse an harlot This was the miserable end as Polycronicon saith of Romilda But better it hapned to her two beautifull and chast daughters who fearing the outrage of the lustfull and intemperate souldiers took purrified flesh of chickens and colts and hid it raw betwixt their breasts the souldiers approaching them took them to be diseased as not able to come neer them by reâ—son of the
smell by which means they preserved their honours for the present and they for their vertues sake were after bestowed upon Gentlemen of noble quality The â—ame Author puts me in mind of another Adulteresse who to 〈◊〉 guilt of inchastity added the bloody sin of murder Our modern Chroniclers remember us of one Ethelburga daughter to King Oâ—â—a and wife to Brithricus King of the West-Saxons who aiming at nothing so much as her own libidinous delights that she might the more freely and securely injoy them by many sundry treasons conspired the death of her husband but having made many attempts and not prevailing in any the devill to whom she was a constant votaresse so far prevailed with her that she never gave over her dammable purpose til she had not only dispatcht him of life by poison but was the death also of a noble young Gentleman the chiefe favorite of the King and one whom in all his designs he most trusted These mischiefs done and fearing to be questioned about them because she had incurr'd a generall suspition she packt up her choicest jewels and with a trusty squire of hers one that had been an agent in all her former brothelries fled into France where by her counterfeit tears and womanish dissimulations she so far insinuated into the Kings breast that the wrinckles of all suggestions were cleared and she freely admitted into the Kings Court and by degrees into his especiall favour so rich were her jewels so gorgeous her attire so tempting her beauty being now in her prime and withall so cunning and deceitfull her behaviour that all these agreeing together not only bated the hearts of the Courtiers but attracting the eies of the great Majesty it selfe insomuch that the King sporting with her in a great Bay window the Prince his sonne then standing by him he merrily demanded of her If she were instantly to make election of a husband whether she would chuse him or his son to whom she rashly answered That of the two she would make choice of his son The King at this somewhat moved and observing in her a lightnesse of behaviour which his blind affection would not suffer him before to look into thus replied Hadst thou made election of me I had possest thee of my son but in chusing him thou shalt injoy neither So turning from her commanded her to be stripped out of her jewels and gay ornaments and presently to he shriven and sent to a Monastery where she had not long been cloistered but to her own infamy and the disgrace of the religious house she was deprehended in the dissolute imbraces of a wanton and lewd fellow for which she was turned out of the cloister and after died in great poverty and misery In memory of whom there was a law established amongst the West Saxons which disabled all the Kings wives after her either to be dignified with the name of Queen or upon any occasion to sit with him on his regall throne yet this woman though she died poorly yet died as it is said penitently therefore methinks I hear her leave this or the like memory behind her En Epitaph upon Ethelburga Queen of the West Saxons I was I am not smil'd that since did weep Labour'd that rest I wak'd that now must sleep I plai'd I play not sung that now am still Saw that am blind I would that have no will I fed that which feeds worms I stood I fell I bad God save you that now bid farewell I felt I feel not followed was pursu'd I warr'd have peace I conquer'd am subdu'd I mov'd want motion I was stiffe that bow Below the earth then something nothing now I catch'd am caught I travell'd here I lie Liv'd to the world that to the world now die This melancholy is not amisse to season with a little mirth In some other Country it was for I presume ours affoords none such but a common huswife there was who making no conscience of spouse-breach or to vitiate her lawfull sheets had enterteined into her society a swaggering companion such a one as we commonly call a Roaring boy This lad of mettall who sildome went with fewer weapons about him then were able to set up a trade-falne cutler had to maintain his mistresses expenses and his own riots committed a robbery and likewise done a murder and being apprehended for the fact judged condemned and according to the law in that case provided hanged in chains the gibbet was set neer to the common hiâ—-way and some miles distant from the City where this sweet Gentlewoman with her husband then inhabited who because in regard of the common fame that went upon them she durst neither give her Love visitation in prison be at his arraignment or publike execution her purpose was as affection that breeds madnesse may easily beget boldnesse unknown to her husband or any other neighbour to walk in the melancholy evening and to take her last leave of him at the gallowes Imagine the night came on and she on her journie It hapned at the same time a traveller being a footman whose journy was intended towards the Town as purposing to lodge there that night but being alone and darknesse overtaking him he grew doubtfull of the way and fearfull of robbing therefore he retired himselfe out of the road and lay close under the gibber still listning if any passenger went by to direct him in the way or secure him by his company as he was in this deep meditation the woman arrives at the place and not able to contain her passion breaks out into this extasie And must I needs then go home again without thee at which words the traveller starting up in hast No by no means quoth he I shall be glad of your company and with what speed he can makes towards her away runs the woman thinking her sweet heart had leapâ— down from the gibbet and followed her after speeds the man as loath to be destitute of company still crying Stay for me stay for me but the faster he called the faster she ran fear added to both their hast down they tumbled often but as quickly they were up again still she fled still he pursued But contrary was the issue of their fears for she never looked back till she came to her own house where finding the doors open and her husband set at supper for hast tumbled him and his stool down one way and the table and meat another he rising with much adoe askt what the pox she ailed and if she brought the devill in with her at her taile long it was ere she could make him any answer or come to her right sences how she excused it I knew not the traveller when he found himselfe neer the City and saw light slackned his pace and went quietly to his Inne whether they ever met after to reconcile their mistake or no I know not neither is it much pertinent to enquire A Modern History of an
a chain of Diamonds which gave a wondrous addition to that beauty when 〈◊〉 of it selâ—e without any ornament was not to be 〈◊〉 A contrary effect it wrought in the King and 〈◊〉 husband To Edgar she seemed some goddesse at least a miracle in nature to Ethelwold in regard of his fear a fury or what worse he could compare her to O frail woman in this one vanity to appear beautifull in the eies of a King thou hast committed two heinous sins Adultery and Murder for accordingly it so fell out Edgar was as much surprised with her love as incensed with hate against her Lord both which for the present he dissembled neither smiling on the one nor frowning on the other In the afternoon the King would needs 〈◊〉 the stag in the forrest of Werwelly since called 〈◊〉 wood In the chase by the appointment of Edgar Earl Ethelwold was strook through the body with an arrow and so slain the King after made Elfritha his bride and Queen The Earl had a base son then present at the death of his father of whom the King asked how he liked that manner hunting to whom he answered Roial Sir what seemeth good to you shall be no way offensive from that time forward he was ever gracious with the King And Elfritha 〈◊〉 to make attonement with heaven for the murder of her husband or â—â—ther as Ranulphus saith for causing Edward 〈◊〉 whom she was step mother to be slaine 〈◊〉 her own son Egelredus might reign builded an Abby for Nunnes at Worwell where she was after buried Gunnora IN the time that Agapitus was Pope Lewis King of France the son of Charls caused William Longa Spata the Duke of Normandy to be treacherously slain this William was son to Rollo The Lords of Normandy with this murder much incensed watched their advantage and surprised the King in Rhothemage where they committed him to safe custody till he had promised and sworn to yeeld up Normandy to Richard son and immediate heire to William the late murdered Duke and moreover in what place soever the King and the young Duke should have meeting to confer that Richard should car his sword but King Lewis neither to have sword nor knife about him This Richard being young was called Richard the Old he had besides another attribute given him which was Richard without Feare because he was never known to be dismaid at any thing but a third above these was that he pretended to be wondrous religious He was Duke two and fifty years and took a Lady to his bed from Denmark whose name was Gunnora by whom he had five sons and two daughters the eldest of which was married to Etheldredus King of England her name was Emma and she was called the flower of Normandy Concerning this bold yet religious Duke it is reported by Marianus lib. 2. Henricus Ranulphus and others that besides many other testimonies of his sanctity this one made him most eminent A Monk of Andoenus in Rothomage a Town in Normandy going one night to meet with his Sweet heart his way lay over a bridge and under that bridge was a deep foord or river it so hapned that mistaking his footing he fell into the water and there was drowned He was no sooner dead but there came to carry away his soul an Angel and a Fiend these two contended about it the one would have it so would the other great was the controversie betwixt them at length they concluded to put the case to Duke Richard and both to stand to his arbitriment much pleading there was on both sides at length the Duke gave sentence That the soul should be restor'd again to the body and be placed again upon that bridge from whence he had falne and if then he would offer to go from thence to his Sweet heart the Devill should take him but if otherwise he because he was a Church-man should be still in the Angels protection This was done and the Monk left his way to the woman and fled to the Church as to a sanctuary whither the Duke went the next day and found the Monks cloths still wet and told the Abbot every circumstance as it fell out therefore the Monk was shriven did penance was absolved and reconciled This I have read which I perswade no man to beleeve This Duke lived with the faire Gunnora long time dishonestly and without marriage had by her those children aforesaid but at length by the perswasion of the nobility and intercession of the Clergy he took her to wife The first night after the marriage when the Duke came to her bed she turned her back towards him which she had never done till that time at which he marvelling demanded of her the reason why she did so To whom she answered before I was your strumpet and therefore as a servant was tied to do your pleasure in all things but now I am your wife and made part of your selfe therefore henceforth I claime with you an equall soveraignty and will do what me list bearing my selfe now like a Princesse not like a prostitute This I am easily induced to beleeve for how soon do honours change manners Juvenall in his sixth Satyr speaking of marriage thus saith Semper habet lites aeternaque jurgia lectus c. The marriage bed is seldome without strife And mutuall chidings he that takes a wife Bargains for mighty trouble and small rest Sleep growes a stranger then whilst in her brest She lodgeth Passion Selfe-will Anger Feare And from her 〈◊〉 drops many a feigned teare c. Somewhat to this purpose spake Terentius in his Adelpâ—â—s Duxi uxorem quam ibi non miseriam vidi c. I made choice of a wife with judgement sound What miserie have I not therein found Children are born they prove my second care They should be comforts that my corfives are For her and them I study to provide And to that purpose all my time 's apply'd To keep her pleas'd and raise their poor estate And what 's my meed for all but scorn and hate And so much for Gunnora It seems the Emperor Valentinianus was neither well read in Juvenal nor Terence He when his wife commended unto him the beauty of the Lady Justina took her to his bed and for her sake made a law That it should be lawful for any man to marry two wives It is read of Herod the Great that he had nine wives and was divorsed from them all only for the love of Mariamnes niece to Hirâ—anus for whose sake he caused himselfe to be circumcised and turned to the faith of the Jewes he begot on her Alexander and Aristobulus on Dosides Antipater on Metheta Archelaus on Cleopatra Philip and Herodes Antipas he that was afterward called Tetrarch one of the four Princes Aristobulus that was Herodes son begotten on Beronica the daughter of his own Aunt called Saloma he begot the
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
master kept great store of pullen about the house and that was all Hens dung Hens dung saith the Gentleman I have a peece of land at home I would it were all there if thou canst help me to any quantity of it being sure that is such I will give thee twenty shillings a load for as much as thou canst provide and fetch it away with my own carriage The fellow hearing this promised within a month to furnish him with twenty load at least at the same price The match was made and the Gentleman after breakfast took horse and departed The hostler bespeaks all such soile as the Town could affoard or the next Villages by and made such a huge heap as annoied the whole yard knowing the Gentleman to have been ever a man of his word who came according to the time appointed The hostler is glad to see him and tels him he hath provided him of his commodity and withall brings him to the place where it lay like a laystall The Gentleman seems wondrous glad of this new merchandise and drawer out certain peeces out of his pocket as if he meant to give him present paiment but withall asked him Art thou sure all this is hens dung upon my life it is saith the hostler expecting still to finger the gold But replied the Gentleman art thou sure there is no cocks dung amongst it O lord yes saith the hostler how can it be else why then quoth the Gentleman I pray thee make thy best of it good friend for iâ— there be the least â—â—cks dung amongst it it will do me no pleasure I will not give thee three farthings for it all Thus was the bostler notwithstanding his former cost forced to â—â—move all that muckhill and make the yard clean at his own charge with much addition of mockery and laughter Iâ— for a little quantity of cocks dung you 〈◊〉 at all the rest here included the better judgement I hope will imputâ— it as to my simplicity so to your over 〈◊〉 Another main thing is to be feared wherein I must of force 〈◊〉 the censure of some or other namely Why amongst 〈◊〉 histories I have inserted Mortyrs and to confirm their truth have brought Authors that have been held superstitious I answer to all in generall I have only specified such things as I have read and for my own opinion I keep it reserved But because I now come to a conclusion I will end this book thus briefly in regard that women die and so do many die and that they die at all I will give you a womans reason why it is so Because they can live no longer Explicit lib. quartus Inscriptus Melpomene THE FIFTH BOOK inscribed TERPSICHORE Intreating of Amazons and other Women famous either for Valour or for Beauty A Question may be demanded Why under the Muse 〈◊〉 I personate the Bold and the Beautifull the War-like and the Faire she being the Muse to whom measureâ— and dances are solely peculiar as being of them the only and first inventresse I 〈◊〉 and I hope not impertinently that considering every circumstance I know not how to commâ—nd them to a more fit Mecaenâ—â— or Patron for what doth all your martial discipline consist but upon 〈◊〉 number measure distance and order and all these in Choâ—eis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 danceâ— especially we obseâ—ved In dances we keep time to the musick so in marching or drâ—lling our ears are attentive to the voice of the Captaine or Generall In the figures of the one and files of the other number is necessarily observed so is measure distance and order for in these they have an equall correspondence Now concerning fair women whom in all masks at the Court City or elsewhere do your gallants pick out but the Virgins or Ladies most beautifull nay even at Wakes or Weddings in the Country the fairest lasse is continually called out to dance be it but to the harp taber or bag pipe Amongst the souldiers were celebrated the Pyrrhick dance in armour first instituted by King Pyrrhus of Epire so likewise the Matachine or sword dance what measures have been devised for the exercise of faire Ladies Custome derived from all Antiquity still makes frequent amongst us It was used amongst the Jewes witnesse Herodias and is still continued in Spain France and England A second doubt is whether the magnanimous or the exquisitely featured whether Fortitude or Pulchritude ought to have precedence and first place It is a maxime amongst the Physitians Plus necat gula quam gladius i. surfets have been the destruction of more then the sword so I am of opinion That beauty hath been the ruine of more Cities the depopulation of more Kingdoms and destruction of more men then the sword But in this place since the courage of the mind and excellence of form contend for the upper hand I take it from Feature to bestow it on Magnanimity and spirit since the deeds of the one live to all posterity but the frailty of the other is subject to every small infirmity Therefore Ovid in his book de arte amandi thus writes Forma bonum fragile est quantumque accedit ad annos Fit minor Gradu carpitur ipse suo c. Form's a frail good as time runs on it wasts And the more spends it selfe the more it hasts Nor alwaies can the purple violet smell Or Lillies bloom in whitenesse that excell The fragrant rose whose beauty we desire The leaves once falne shewes but a naked brier O thou most faire white haires come on a pace And wrinckled furrowes which shall plow thy face So likewise Petronius Arbiter in one of his Satyrs Quod solum formae decus est cecidere Capillae The only beauty of her shape her haire Fell from her head her beauty to impaire Summer succeeds the Spring her Autumn chaceth And them sad Winter with his snow disgraceth Deceitfull Nature all these youthfull joies Thou gav'st us first thou art the first destroies Now the fruits and effects of this frail beauty especially where a faire face meeteth with a corrupted mind I will next shew you by history Ahab by the perswasion of his faire wife Jesabel was the death of many of the Prophets of the Lord. Dalila was the confusion of Sampson the strong Strange women brought Solomon the Wise to idolatry and to forget God Joram a King of Israel at the instigation of Athalia committed many horrible outrages Helena's beauty was the occasion oâ— that infinitâ— slaughter betwixt the Greeks and Trojans Pâ—lops succeeding in the Kingdome of Phâ—ygia made warre upon Oâ—nomaus thâ— fatâ—er of Hyprodamia because being surprized with her beauty she was denied him in 〈◊〉 Another Hyppodamia 〈◊〉 wife of Perithous was the occasion of that great 〈◊〉 or battel betwixt the 〈◊〉 and the Lâ—pithes for which Pâ—â—pertius cals her Ischomache of the 〈…〉 Isco which signifieth Habeo and Mache Pâ—gna his words are these Qualis Iscomache
Lapithae genus Heroinae Centaurâ—s mâ—dâ—o grata rapâ—â—a meâ—o Such as Iscomache that was Of the Lâ—â—y 〈…〉 She whom the Centaurs would have rapt Amâ—dst their cups of wine Perâ—â—les for his love to Aspasia made was against the Samians For Chrysaeis the daughter of Chryses Priest to Apollo 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 a plague was sent amongst the the Greekish host which ceased not till she was returned back to her father for so writes Tortellius Lavinia's beauty the daughter of King Latinus and the Queen Amata was cause of the combâ—â—ion betwixt Turnus and Aeneas so saith 〈◊〉 lib. 4. de Sâ—â—llis Lysimachâ—â— the son of Agathocles poisoned his own son Agathocles by whose fortunate hand he had received the honour and benefit of many glorious victories at the instigation of his wife Arsinoe the sister of Prolomaeus 〈◊〉 Iphis a youth of exquisite feature stranglâ—â— himselfe because he was despised by the fair but cruell Anaxarite Archelaus King of Macedon was slain by a young man called Craâ—â—na because having first promised him his faire daughter he after bestowed her upon another The Poet Archilocus called Iambographus because Lycâ—â—bes denied him his daughter in marriage writes against him such bitter Iambicks that he despaired and hanged himselfe therefore Ovid thus writes Post modo si pâ—ges in te mihi liber Iambus Tincta Licambaeo sanguine â—ela dabit If thou pursu'st me still my book Just vengeance shall implore And in Iambick weapons yeeld Dipt in Lycambes gore Justine in his twenty seventh book relates That Seleucus Callinicus King of Syria for exiling Berenice his step-mother sister to Ptolomaeus was by the same Ptolomaeus invaded and prosecuted by armes Deipâ—â—bus after the death of Paris having married Hellâ—n to which infortunate match her beauty had invited him was by her treachery not only murdered but his body hackt and mangled being almost made one universall wound Tortellius reports of one Evander the nephew 〈◊〉 Pallâ—s King of the Arcadians at the perswasion of his mother Nicostrate slâ—w his own father Orestes the son of Agameâ—â—â—n slew Pyrrhus the son of Achilles being surprised with the beauty of Hermione daughter to Meneâ—eus and Helena 〈◊〉 King of the Thebans was slain by King Crâ—eon being betraied by his own Polydices Cleopatra was the cause of that bloody war betwixt Ptolomaeus Philâ—pater and her own father Alexander King of Syria Idas and Lyncaeus the sons of Aphareus and Arbarne fought a great battel neer to Sparta about the two fair daughters of Leuâ—ippus Phebe and â—â—aira against Castor and Pollux both which were slaine in that battell and perisht not by shipwrack as some write in the pursuit of Paris by sea for the rape of their sister Hellen. Liâ—y lib 36. writes of Antiochus who warning against Rome was so taken with the beauty of a 〈…〉 that neglecting all warlike discipline to spend his 〈…〉 with his wanton he became a 〈…〉 to the enemy Octavia the sister of Augâ—lius being repudiâ—ted by Anthony was the 〈◊〉 of a civill and intestine war The Poet Lucretius growâ—â—◠〈◊〉 for the love of a 〈◊〉 damosell drank poison and so died Tullia incited â—â—rquinius Sâ—perbus to kill her own father Servius Tullius Martia the strumper caused Antonius Commodus the Emperor whose Concubine she was to 〈◊〉 slain by a souldier with whom she had many times lustfull congression Titus Corrancanus being sent on Embassie to Teuca Queen of the Illyrians because he spake to her â—reely and boldly she caused him to be put to death against the lawes of Kingdomes and Nations Livius and Florus Vollaâ—eranus writes of one Rhodoricus King of the Goths who because he stupâ—ated the daughter of Iulianus who was Prefect in the Province or Tingitana the father of the ravisht virgin brought in the Mooâ—s and raised a war which before it was ended was the death of seven hundred thousand men Chilpericus the son of Clothâ—rius was slain by the instigation of his wife Fridegunda in his return from hunting Luchinus a Court of Italy waâ—ied upon Vgolinus Gonzaga because he had adulterated his fair wife Isabella Vollaâ—â—ran Otratus King of Bohemia accused of sloath and cowardise by his wife Margarita for entring league with Rodulphus Caesar raised war betwixt them in which her husband was defeated Gandulphus the martyr for but counselling his wife to a more chast and temperate life was murdered betwixt her and the adulterer Of wars and many other mischiefes of which faire women have been the originall Ovid elegantly delivers in 2 Eleg. thus concluding Vidi ego pro nivea pugnantes conjuge tauros Spectatrix animos ipsa 〈…〉 For a white Heâ—fer I have seen 〈◊〉 â—ight Both gathering rage and couâ—age frâ—â— her sight At the building of Rome Râ—mâ—lus to people the City and get wives for his souldiers caused them to ravish the Sabin women and demosels for which waâ— grew betwixt the two Nations Of which Proper lib. 2. Cur exempla 〈◊〉 Graecum Tu criminis author Nutribus 〈…〉 lactâ— lupae c. What need I from 〈◊〉 Greekâ— example ask Thou 〈◊〉 by 〈…〉 she-woâ—fe nurs'd To rape the 〈◊〉 mâ—d'st thy souldiers task Rape Rome still loveâ— because thou taught'st it fiâ—st Since men the form at best 〈◊〉 â—oon fades and thâ— beauty hath been the came of so much blood-shed Why should women be so proud of that which rated 〈◊〉 the highest is no better then in excellent evill or a wretched wonder that had beginning therefore subject to end created from earth and therefore consequently transâ—â—â—ry but on the contrary since the vertues of the mind â—â—ely acquire after 〈◊〉 and glory conquer oblivion and survive envy and Phâ—nix-like recover fresh youth from forgotten ashes To such I yeeld the first place and so begin with the Amazons Of the Amazons AND first of their Country Cappadocia is a land that breedeth goodly and brave horses it hath on the East side Armenia on the West Asia the lesse on the North Amazonia on the South Mount Taurus by which lieth Sicilia and 〈◊〉 as far as the Cilicke Sea that stretcheth towards the Island of Cyprus The lesse Asia called Asia minor joineth to Cappadocia and is closed in with the great sea for it hath on the North the mouth and sea that is called Euxinus on the West Propontides on the South the Aegyptian sea This lesse Asia conteineth many Provinces and Lands 〈◊〉 the North side Bythinia butting upon the sea against Thracia and is called Phrygia the greater The chiefe City of Bythinia is Nicomedia Galathia takes name of the 〈◊〉 that assisted the King of Bythinia in his wars and therefore had that Province given them to inhabit It was first called Gallograecia as being people mixt of the Gals and Grecians but now they be called Galathians and these are they to whom Saint Paul writ his Epistles Ad Galatas The third part of
neighbour we feare to offend the higher Majesty and next that fear the terrour of eternall death and dammation by the first we preâ—evâ— our bodies by the second our honours by the last our soules But those other â—bject fears I purpose â—ere to exemplifie only such as proceed from Effeminacy and Cowardâ—â—â— It is read of Pysander of Greece that being alive he â—eared leâ—t his soul had already forsaken his body Likewise of one Artemon who was of that haâ—â—-hearted disposition 〈◊〉 he moved not abroad without Targers of bâ—asse borne over him like Canopies lest any thing should â—â—ll from aloft and â—eat out his brains or if he rid it was 〈◊〉 horse-litter ceiled and crosse-barâ—'d with gadâ— oâ— steel and plates of iron for which he was called Peripharetes Sâ—bellicus writes that Cassander so feared Alexander that long time after his death comming to Delphos to behold the goodâ—y statues there erected at the very sight of his old masteâ—s eâ—â—igies he fell into such a timorous feâ—ver that his very 〈◊〉 danced in his skin and long time it was â—re they could constantly settle themselves in them own places This was that Cassander who had caused Olympias the mother of Alexander to be so cruelly butchered It is 〈◊〉 of St Valleâ—â— Duke of Valentinois in France that being condemned to death for not disclosing the treasons of the Duke of Burbon just at the instant when the executioner should have strook off his head the King sent him his gracious pardon but all in vain the fear of the blow before it came had dispatched him of life Hereof hath grown a proverb to any man that hath a strong apprehension of feare they will say he hath La fieure de Saint Vallier i. the feaver of Saint Vallier Another thing is recorded of a fellow that was so affraid of the name of Hercules that he hid himselfe in caves and rocks though he knew not of any quarrell betwixt them at length stealing from the obscure cavern where he had denned himselfe to see if the coast were clear casting his eie by chance on the one side and espying Hercules who came that way by chance his life blood sinking into his heels she shook them a little and died in that feaver I could recite terrors and vain fears which have arisen from nothing that have terried whole Cities of Grecians armies of Romans and multitudes of other nations but these particulars shall suffice for my purpose is not too farre to esteminate men nor too much to embolden women since the most valiant man that is is timorous enough and the modestest woman that is may be made sufficiently bold But to the purpose in hand Debora a warlike woman was a Prophetesse and judged Israel by whose counsell and courage they were not only freed from the inroads and incursions of the neighbour nations but many times returned from the field with rich spoiles and glorious conquests of her you may read more at large in the Judges Janus was an ancient King of Italy he enterteined King Saturn when by his son Jupiter he was châ—ced out of Creet Because he was a provident and wise Prince the Romans pictured him with two faces and received him into the number of their gods they attributed to him the beginning and end of things celebrating to his honour the first month January which took the denomination of Janus from his name one face looked upon the year to come the other looked back on the yeare past in his right hand he had a golden key which 〈◊〉 the Temple of Peace in his left a staffe which he strook upon a stone from whence a spring of water seemed to issue out he is thus described by Albricus the Philosopher in his book de Deorum Imaginibus This Janus left behind him a beautiful fair daughter whose name was Helerna she succeeded her father in his Kingdom which was 〈◊〉 by the river Tiber and was a woman of masculine spirit and vertue she reigned over men without the counsell or assistance of men she subdued Nations by her valour and conquered Princes by her beauty of whom may be truly spoken as Propertius lib. 2. writes of the Queen Penthisilaea Ausa ferox ab equo quondam oppugnare sagittis c. Penthisilaea from her steed When her high courage rose Durst with her shaâ—â—s and warlike darts The Darnish fleet oppose No sooner was her beaver up And golden caske laid by But whom by force she could not take She captiv'd with her eie Camilla and others THis Camilla was Queen of the Volscians who even in her craâ—le gave manifest tokens of her future vertue and valour for in her infancy she was neither swathed in soft cloathing nor wrapt in silken mantle not attended by a tender nurse nor â—ed with curious dainties or â—arre fetcht delicates but fostered by her father Meâ—abus with the milk of hinds and wild goats her court was a forrest and her palace a dark and obscure cave Having somewhat outgrown her infancy she took no pleasure in rattles puppets or timbrels in which children for the most part delight neither did she inure her hands to spinning or any such like womanish chares her cloathing was the skins of wild beasts her exercise hunting her practise shooting her arms the bow and quiver her drink the fountain water and her food Venison To this â—bsteâ—â—ous life she vowed the strict vow of chastity At length war being commenc'd betwixt Turnus and Aeâ—eas she adhered to the Ruâ—ilian faction and to those wars brought a regiment of gallant horse which she in person 〈◊〉 Her magnanimity Virgil in the latter end of his 〈◊〉 book thus sets down Hos super 〈◊〉 volsca de gente Camilla Agmea 〈◊〉 equâ—um florentes aere catervas To their supply Camilla came The gallant Volscian Lasse Who bravely did command the horse With troops that shin'd in brasse Of the like condition was Maria Puteolana so called of Peuâ—eolum a City of Campania she was of a warlike condition and an invincible courage and flourisht in the age of Franciis Pitrarch she is described to be most patient of labour and untired with travell moderate in diet but altogether abstinent from wine sparing of words 〈◊〉 boasting but alwaies daring The needle the wheel and the 〈…〉 horse armour the bow the 〈◊〉 and the target above all other delights she embraced she used to walk whole nights without the least sleep and travell whole daies together without rest if necessity at any time compelled her eies to wink or her body to lie down the earth was her bed and her shield her pillow she abandoned the society of women her continuall conversation was with Captains and Commanders which though 〈…〉 a face of boldnesse and as some term it impudency yet his apparant to all men in what a soveraign respect she held her chastity and honour which she maintained without the least blemish unspotted to the end from
her Let me alone the tenement is mine own and I may lie where I list so long as I pay rent for the house Some few nights after comming home in the like tune and sitting asleep in a chair before the chimnie his wife being gone to bed presently the man fals into the fire the maid cries out to her Mistresse O mistresse my Master is falne and lies in the fire even in the midst of all the fiâ—e she lay still and turning her on the other side said so long as he paies rent for the house he may lie where he please But to more serious businesse for I have done sporting Of English Viragoes And of Joan de Pucil OF Guendoline the wife of King Locrine and daughter to Corinaeus Cuke of Cornwall I shall take more occasion to speak more at large in the discourse of the beautifull Estreld Elphleda was sister to King Edward before the conquest sirnam'd the fourth she was wife to Etheldredus Duke of Mercia who assisted her husband in the restoring of the City of Chester after it had been destroied and demolished by the Danes encompassing it with new wals he was Generall to the King in all his expeditions against the Danes in the last battell that he fought against them at a place called Toten Hall in Stafforshire he gave them a mighty overthrow but a greater at Wooddensfield where were slain two Kings two Earls and of the souldiers many thousands which were of the Danes of Nothumberland In this battel were the King and Elphleda both present Soon after this victory Etheldredus died and she governed many years after him in all Mercia or middle England except the two Cities of London and Oxford which the King her brother reserved to himselfe She builded many Cities and Towns and repaired others as Thatarn Brimsbury the Bâ—idge upon Sâ—vern Tamworth Liechfield Stafford Warwick Shrewsbury Watrisbury Edisbury in the Forrest besides Chester which is since utterly defaeced and destroied Also she built a Cily and a Castle in the North part of Mercia which then was called Runcofan and after Runcorn Thus far Ranulphus William de regib with others give her this noble Character This Lady having once assaid the throwes of childbirth would never after be drawn to have any carnall society with her husband alledging that it was not sitting or seemly for a woman of her degree being a Princesse a Kings daughter and a Kings sister to 〈◊〉 selfe to such wanton embraces whereof should 〈◊〉 so great pain and sorrow She tamed the Welchmen and in many conflict chased the Danes after whose death the King took the province of Mercia intirely into his own hand 〈◊〉 her daughter Elswina whom he led with him into West-Saxon Henricus lib. 5. hath left this Epitaph as a memoriall over her Tomb Oh Elphlede mighty both in strength and mind The dread of men and victoresse of thy kind Nature hath done as much as nature can To make thee maid but goodnesse makes the man Yet pity thou shouldst change ought save thy name Thou art so good a woman and thy same In that growes greater and more worthy when Thy seminine valour much out shineth men Gâ—eat Caesars acts thy noble deeds excell So sleep in peace Virago maid farewell Mucâ— to this purpose hath Trevisa expressed these verses in old English Maud the daughter of Henry the fourth Emperour of that name after the death of her husband she bore the title of Maud the Empresse her father in his life time swore all the nobility to her succession but he being dead many fell from their oaths of Alleagiance adhering to Stephen Earl of Bullein who by the sisters side was Nephew to the deceased King He notwithstanding he had before sworn to her homage caused himselfe to be crowned at London upon St Stephens day by William Archbishop of Canturbury one that had before past his Oath of Alleapiance to the Empress Much combustion there was in England in those daies betwixt Maud and Stephen and many battel 's fought in which the successe was doubtfull the victory sometimes inclining to the one and again to the other the circumstances rather would become a large Chronicle then a short tractate I will therefore come to that which sorts best with my present purpose This Lady took the King in battell and kept him prisoner at Bristoll from Candlemas day to Holyrood day in harvest for which victory the people came against her with procession which was approved by the Popes legate From Bristol she came to Winchester thence to Wilton to Oxford to Reding and St Albans all the people acknowledging her their Queen and soveraign excepting the Kentish men only she came thence to London to settle the estate of the Land whither came King Stephen for her husbands delivery upon condition that Stephen should surrender the Kingdome up entirely into her hands and betake himselfe ever after to a sequestred and religious life But to this motion the Empresse would by no means assent the Citizens likewise intreated her that they might use the favourable lawes of S Edward and not those strict and severe Statutes and Ordinances devised and established by King Henry her father neither to this would the bold spirited Lady agree For which the people began to withdraw their affections from her and purposed to have surprized her of which she having notice left all her houshold provision and furniture and secretly conveied her selfe to Oxford where she attended her forces who were by this time dispersed and divided But taking with her her Uncle David King of the Scots she came before Winchester laying a strong siege to the Bishops Tower which was defended by the brother of King Stephen But now observe another another female warrior The wife of the imprisoned King being denied his freedome now takes both spirit and arms and associated with one William Iperus came with such a thundring terror to raise the siege that the hardy Empresse to give way to her preâ—ent â—ury was from strength forced to sâ—e to stratagem for finding her powers too weak to withstand the incensed Queen she counterseited her selfe dead and as a Corse caused her body to be conveied to the City of Glocester and by this means escaped But Robert her brother was there taken prisoner and committed to safe custody Then the Queen emploied her selfe on the one part for the release of her husband and the Empresse on the other for the enfranchisement of her brother at length after long debating of the businesse it was determined by the mediators on both sides that Stephen should be restored to the Kingdome and Duke Robert to his Lordship and Earldome and both as they had disturbed the peace of the Land so now to establish it To this the Earl would not assent so that all that year there was nothing but spoile man-slaughter direptions and all manner of violence robbing of the rich and oppressing of
the poor The King upon Holy-Rood day was released and besieged the Empresse in the City of Oxford from Michelmas day to mid winter where being oppressed with famine she took the advantage of the Frost and Snow and attiring her selfe all in white escaped over the Fens and came to the Castle of Wallingford And so much shall suffice to expresse the magnanimity and warlike dispositions of two noble and heroick English Ladies A French Lady comes now in my way of whom I wil give you a short character In the minority of Henry the sixt when France which was once in his entire possession was there governed by our English Regents the famous Duke of Bedsord and others Charls the Dolphin stiled after by the name of Charls the seventh being a Lord without land yet at that time maintaining what hostility he was able whilst the English forraged through France at their will and commanded in all places at their own pleasure the French in utter despaire of shaking oft the English yoke there arose in those desperate times one Joane Are the daughter of James Are and his wife Isabel born in Dâ—mprin This James was by profession a Shepherd and none of the richest Joane whom the French afterwards called Joane de Pucil whilst she was a young maid and kept her fathers sheep would report to divers That our blessed Lady S. Agnes and S. Katharine had appear'd unto her and told her that by her means France should regain her pristine liberty and cast off the yoke of English servitude This comming to the eare of one Peter Bradicourt an eminent Captain then belonging to Charls the Dolphin he used means that she should be sent to have conference with his master who sojourned then in Chynon in his lowest of dejection and despair of hope supply or comfort In her journie thither she came to a Town called Faire-bois where taking up her Inne a place which she had never before seen she desired a souldier to goe to a secret by-corner where was a heap of old iron and from thence to bring her a sword The souldier went according to her direction and searching the place amidst a great quantity of old tongs shovels hand irons and broken horse shooes found a faire bright sword with five Flower-Deluces upon either side engraven This sword with which she after committed many slaughters upon the English she girt to her and so proceeded to Chynon to give the Dolphin meeting Being there arrived Charls concealed himself amongst many others whilst he was brought into a faire long gallery where he had appointed another to take his place and to assume his person she looking upon him gave him neither respect nor reverence but sought out Charls among all the other in that assembly and pickt him from amongst the rest to whom making a low obeisance she told him that to him only was her businesse The Dolphin at this was amazed the rather because she had never before seen him and was somewhat comforted by reason that she shewed chear and alacrity in her countenance they had together long and private conference and shortly after she had an army given him to be disposed and directed by her She then bespake her selfe armor Cap a Pe bearing a white Ensign displaid before her in which was pourtraied the picture of the Saviour of the world with a Flower-de-luce in his hand and so marched to Oâ—leance Her first exploit was fortunately to raise the siege and â—elieve the Town From thence she passed to Reams took the City and caused the Dolphin there to proclaim himselfe King and take upon him the Crown of France She after took Jargueux a strong Town and in it the Earl of 〈◊〉 with many other brave English Gentlemen She â—ought the great battell of Pathay with good successe in which were taken prisoners the Lord Talbot the scourge and terror of the French Nation the Lord Scales the Lord Hungerford with many others both of name and quality she took in Benveele Mehun Trois and divers other Towns of great import and consequence at length in a caâ—â—â—ado or skirmish she was taken prisoner by Sir John of Entenburch a Burgonian Captain and sent to Roan The French Chronicles affirm that the morning before she was surprized she took the Sacrament and comming from Church told to divers that were about her that she was betraid her life sold and should shortly after be delivered up unto a violent death For Sir John gave a great sum of monie to betray her The English comming to invest themselves before Mondidier Joan was advised to issue out by Flaâ—y and skirmish with them who was no sooner out but he shut the gates upon her being taken she was sent to Peter Bishop of Bevoise who condemned her to the fire for a forceresâ—e which judgement was accordingly executed upon her in Roan in the Market place Twenty six years after Charls the King for a great sum of monie procured an annihilation of the first sentence from the Pope in which she was proclaimed a Viâ—ago inspired with divine instinct in memory of whose vertuous life and unjust death he caused a faire crosse to be erected just in the place where her body was burned I return again to the English Fâ—bâ—an and Harding speak of Emma sister to the Norman Duke called Richard who for her extraordinary beauty was called The flower of Normandy she was married to Eâ—helâ—ed King of England By 〈◊〉 heroick spirit and masculine instigation the King seat to all parts of the Kingdome secret and strict commissions That upon a day and hour assigned all these Danes which had usurped in the Land and used great cruelty should be slaughtered which at her behest and the Kings command was accordingly performed which though it after proved ominous and was the cause of much misery and mischiefe yet it shewed in her a noble and notable resolution Oâ— Queen Margaret the wiâ—e of Henry the sixt her courage resolution and magnanimity to speak at large would ask a Volume rather then a compendious discourse to which I am strictly tied And therefore whosoever is desirous to be further instructed in the successe of those many battels fought against the house of York in which she was personally present I refer them to our English Chronicles that are not sparing in commending her more then womaâ—ish spirit to everlasting memory With her therefore I conclude my female Martialists And now me thinks I am come where I would be and that is amongst you faire ones Of faire Women IT is reported of a King that for many yeers had no issue and desirous to have an heire of his own blood and begetting to succeed in the throne upon his earnest supplication to the divine powers he was blessed with a faire son both of beauty and hope And now being possessed of what he so much desired his second care was to see him so educated that he might have as much comfort
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
Amor est aliuitque corinthus At nunc ipsa tenet inclita Thessalia Though Greece of unmatch'd strength and courage be It obei'd Lais to thy shape and thee Love was thy father thee Corinthus bred Who now in stately Thessaly liest dead This notwithstanding some will not allow her to have been educated in in the Cranaeum which is a place of exercise in the City of Corinth Phrine SHE for her beauty was emulated by Lais and was a prostitute in Thespis a City of Booetia who being for some Capitall crime convented before the Senate and notwithstanding she had a famous Advocate to plead in her behalfe fearing some harsh and severe censure she trusting to her beauty bethought her of this project before the sentence was pronounced she cast off her loose and upper garments and without any word speaking as far as womanish modesty would suffer her exposed her body naked to the Judges O Beauty thou canst more prevail then a thousand Orators With her rare form and extraordinary feature the old gray-beards were so taken that where before their purpose was to inflict upon her some severe punishment they changed their austerity into love and pity and dismissed her without mulct or fine Therefore the famous Orator and Grammarian Quintilian thus speaks The admirable beauty of so compleat a Fabrick more prevâ—iled with the Senate then all the Rhetoricall eloquence of her Advocate Hypparis Upon this occasion an Edict was published That from thence forward no Client whatsoever should be in presence whilst their Cause was in pleading lest either pity or affection to the person should sway the ballance of justice and equity It is further remembred of her That Praxitiles the most excellent Painter of his time for some courtesies she had done or some favours grac'd him with promised to give her the best and most curious Table in his work-house but she by no perswasion or cunning able to wrest from him which amongst so many had the priority she bethought her of this sleight watching a time when the Painter was abroad in the City she hired a messenger to run to him in all hast and counterfeiting a sudden passion to tell him his house was on fiâ—e and many or most of his elaborate pieces burnt to ashes At which Praxitiles amazed and strangely moved broke forth into this language But is the Picture of Cupid safe and reserved from combustion by which she found that to be his Master-piece and therefore due to her by promise This Phrine never used the hot Baths as other of her profession accustomed to doe only at the Feasts of Ceres and Neptune she would in the sight of all the Grecians in her loose garment and hair dishevelled about her shoulders walk down to the Sea side and there wash her selfe And from her as Athenaeus in his Dypnos lib. 13. cap. 22. affirms Apelles drew that admirable and unmatched piece called Venus Emergeus i. Venus swimming or rising ouâ— of the waters Of which Ausonius composed an Epigram with this inscription In venerem Andiomenen Emersam Pelagi nuper genitalibus undis Câ—pria Apellaei Cerne laboris opus Behold fair Cipria from her native Brine Plunging Apelles a brave work of thine Who shaking off her golden curls late drown'd Rains the salt sea-drops from her shoulders round Her hairs yet dank 'bout her white wrists she winds Which wreath'd she in her silken hair lace binds Pallas and Juno said this having seen Wee yield the Palm to thee fair beauties Queen Praxitiles the Statuary before spoken of drew from her the Picture of Venus Cnidia and under the Table of Love which was given to adorn the Theatre he caused these verses to be inscribed Praxitiles pinxit prius est quem passus amorem Deprompsit proprio pectore qui A chetipum Love which himselfe hath suffered and best knew From his own breast this piece the Painter drew This Picture of Love some say was placed in Thespia a free Town in Boetis nere Helicon and dedicated to the Muses which others take to be a City in Magnesia neer Thessaly but her golden Picture made by Praxitiles was hung in Delphos above the Marble Statue of Mercury and betwixt that of Archidamus King of the Lacedemonians and Philip of Amintas having this inscription Phrine Epicleis Thespia This when Crates Cinicus beheld he said This Table is dedicated to expresse the intemperance of the Grecians as Alcaetus witnesseth lib. 20. depositorum in Delphis Apollodorus in Lib. Amicarum speaks of two Phrines the one was called Sapâ—rduis the other Clausigâ—los of Kleo i. Lugeo to mourn and Gelos i. Risus Laughter Herodicus saith lib. 6. Objurgatorum That she was called by the Orators Sestus because she rifled and despoiled her Clients and the other Thespica This Phrine grew exceeding rich and made offer to begirt Tnebes with a new wall so that upon the chief gate they would make this inscription This Alexander the Great demolished which Phrine the Courtesan at her own charge erected for so writes Callistratus in his book Amicarum Timocles Comicus writ of her infinite riches in his Neaera as likewise Amphis in Novacula Aristogiton in an Oration against Phrine affirms That her proper name was Mâ—nesarete Of her Posidippus Comicus writ more at large in Ephesia There was one Timandra daughter to Tyndarus and Laedia the sister to Clitemnestra but Pliny speaks of a notorious strumpet of that name beloved of Alcibiades the Athenian for whom being dead she erected a famous Sepulchre she was with her friend Aâ—cis opprest in battell by Lysander Equall to her in beauty was Campaspe by some called Pancasta a wanton of an extraordinary feature and much affected by the excellent Painter Apelles she was prisoner to Alexander the great and at his earnest intercession bestowed on him by the Macedonian Conquerour Glicerin or Glicera and others THis Glicera was sirnamed Thespiensis of the City where she was born Praxitiles the Painter much doted on her beauty and gave her a Table in which Cupid was most curiously pourtraied which after her death she bequeathed as a legacy to the City Satyrus reports That Stilpo being at a banquet with her and reproving her as a great corrupter of the yong men of Thespis she answer'd we are O Stilpo of one and the same error guilty alike For it is said of thee That all such as converse with thee and participate of thy precepts thou corruptest with thy amatorious and unprofitable Sophisms smal difference then there is to be traduced by thee a Philosopher or by me a professed Prostitute She was a great favourite of the Poet Menander Hipperides in an oration against Manlithaeus as also Theopompus affirms That Harpalus after the death of Pythonice sent for Glicera to Athens who comming to Tarsus was received into the Kings Palace whither much confluence was assembled bowing their knees to her and saluting her by the name of Queen neither would they
suffer Harpalus to assume the Diadem till she were likewise crowned and in Rhossus where his statue was erected in brasse she caused hers to be placed for so Clearchus writes in his history of Alexander as likewise Catanaeus Clearchus observes of her that when any fair young Lad appeared before her she used to say Then doe boies appear most beautifull when they most resemble the looks and gestures of women She was affected by Pansia Sicionius a famous Painter Harpalus the Macedonian having robbed Alexander the Great of much treasure flying to Athens sollicited there Pythonica and by many great gifts won her to his embraces she dying he profusely lavished many talents upon her obsequies and as Possidonius in his Histories affirms not only with the artificiall skill of many of the best artists and workmen but with Organs Voices and all kinds of musicall harmony decorated her funerall Dicaearchus writes That whosoever shall travell towards Athens by the sacred way called Elusinis there he shall behold a goodly Temple built in state height and compass exceeding all others which who so shall considerately peruse he shall guesse it either to be the cost of Miltiades Pericles Cimon or of some other Athenian equally with them illustrious and especially of such a one that for merit towards the Common-weal might command a voluntary contribution from the publike treasury Theopompus in an Epistle to Alexander thus carps at the intemperance of Harpalus Consider quoth he and enquire of the men of Babylon with what superfluous charge he had interred his strumpet Pythonica who was but handmaid to Bachis the she-musitian and Bachis the servant of Synope Threissa who from the City of Aegina transported her Bawdries into Athens she being not only of the third rank and degree of servants but of Bawds for with more then two hundred Talents charge he hath dedicated unto her two sumptuous monuments to the admiration of all men when it hath not been known the like honour or cost to have been bestowed by him or any other in memory of any brave souldier or of such as perished in Cilicia for the Empire and liberty of whole Greece shee only having perdurable monuments raised to her as well in Babylon as in Athens Temples and Altars with sacrifices offered her by the name of Venus Pythonica With other such upbraidings he complained on him to Alexander of whom Alâ—xis in Licisca likewise speaks as also that after her death he took to his bed the before named Glicera Next her followes Irene That Ptolomaeus that placed garrisons in Ephesus and was the son of King Philadelphus had a beautifull mistresse called Irene she when Ptolomaeus was assaulted by the Thracians in the City of Ephesus and to shun their violence fled into a Chappell consecrated to the goddesse Diana would not in that distresse forsake him but entred the place together and when the souldiers broke open the gates upon them to kil the King she removed not her hand from the ring of the door but with her own blood sprinkled the Altar till the souldiers likewise falling upon her she expired in the arms of the slaughtered King As noble was that of Danae Philarchus remembers one Sophron of Ephesus to have had in his delights Danae daughter to Leontius of the Sect of the Epicures a man well seen in the speculations of Philosophy To her trust were all the domestick affairs of the house committed even by the consent of his wife Laodice who at length perceiving his love to encline to Danae she purposed at her next best opportunity to make away with her husband This being found out by Danae and in great secrecy revealed to Sophron he gave at the first no credit to the report yet at her importunacy he promised within two daies to consider of the matter and in that time to deliberate what was best to be done in the prevention of such a mischiefe and in that interim conceals himselfe in the City by which Laodice finding her purpose to be discovered she accused Danae for his murther and instantly without further process by the help of her friends and servants hurried her to the top of a high Promontory from thence to throw her headlong who seeing imminent death before her eies fetching a deep sigh she thus said I marvell not now that the gods have so small honour done to them in regard of their injustice since I am thus punisht for saving the life of my friend and thâ—s Laodice is thus honoured that would have took away the life of her husband Agathoclaea VVArs having been long continued betwixt Ptolomey of Aegypt and Antiochus of Syria insomuch that Ptolomaeus was by his Embassadors rather by fear then necessity as it were inforced to sollicite a peace notwithstanding Antiochus invading Aegypt took from him many Towns and Cities of consequence which proffer drawing Ptolomey to the field be gave him a brave affront and foile and had he taken the advantage of a present fortune had paid him home with an irrecoverable overthrow but Ptolomey wholly devoted to effeminacy and luxury only contented with what he had recovered of his own and pursuing no further advantages made choice of a dishonourable peace before a just war and so concluded all dissention with an unalterable league And being free from all forrein invasions he began domestick troubles at home For being given over to his own appetite and besotted to his insatiate pleasures he first began with Laodice both his sister and wife causing her to be slain that he might the more freely enjoy the society and fellowship of his most rare and beautifull mistress Agathoclea so that the greatness of his name and the splendor of his majesty both set apart he abandoned himselfe solely to whoredomes by night and to banquets and all profuseness of riot by day And now liberty being grown to law the boldness of the strumpet for no better my Author stiles her cannot be contained within the wals of the Kings house which the overdotage of the King the extraordinary grace and honours conferred for her sake on her brother Agathocles together with her own ambitions growing every day more and more to greater insolence made still more manifest Nâ—xâ— there was her old mother called Evanthe a cunning Hâ—gâ—l may term her who by reason of her double issue Agathocles and Agathoclea had a great hand with the King or rather a great power over him Therefore not contented with the King alone they possess the Kingdome also They ride abroad in all state to be seen are proud to be by all saluted and with such great trains to be attended Agathocles as if â—owed to the Kings elbow was not seen without him but with a nod or word swaied and governed the City The gifts of all military honours as the Tribunes Prefects and Captains all these were appointed by the women neither was there any in the Kingdome that had lesse
power then the King himselfe who long sleeping in this dream of majesty having given away all that was essentiall in a King he fell sick and died leaving behind him a child of five years old by his afore murthered wife and sister Laodice But his death was by these favourites long concealed whilst they had by all covetous Rapine snatched what they might out of the Kings treasurie by this to strengthen a faction of the most base and dissolute subjects that by monie thus ill got and debauch'd souldiers thus levied they might set safe footing in the Empire but it fel out far otherwise for the Kings death and their design was no sooner discovered but in the rude Concourse of the multitude the Minion Agathocles was first slain and the two women the mother and the daughter were in revenge of murthered Laodice hanged upon gybets being now made a scorn to every man that was before a terror to all the pupillage of the infant and the sâ—feâ—y of the Realm to his use the Romans most nobly after took to their protection Cleophis ALexander the Great after many conquests entring into India that he might contermine his Empire with the Ocean and the utmost parts of the East and to which glory that the ornaments of his army might suit the trappings of his horses and the armor of his souldiers were all studded with silver and his main army of their Targets of silver as Curtius writes he caused to be called Argyraspides In processe by gentle and pleasurable marches they came to the City Nisa the Citizens making no opposition at all trusting to the reverence due to Liber Pater by whom they say the City was first erected and for that cause Alexander caused it to be spared passing those fruitfull Hils where grapes grow in abundance naturally and without the help of aiâ— or hand of man he thence passed the Dedalian mountains even to the Provinces and Kingdome of the Queen Cleophis who hearing of his victories and fearing of his potency thought rather to affront him by fair means then by force by policy then power for knowing her self to be a woman of extraordinary state and beauty the by her Embassadors sollicited an enterview which Alexander granting she appeared before him of such a Queen-like majesty and her accomplishments of nature so helpt with the ornaments of art for she was adorned with the richest and best shining stones of India that her glory so captivated the heart of the conqueror that they came to treat of composition she proposing to him That it were no honour for so magnificent a victor so famous through the world for his conquests over men to insult upon the weak spoils of a woman inured to no other arms then the arms of a sweet and loving bedfellow yet if for the ransome of her Empire he would accept of her love and service in that kind she was there in person at his command his subject and servant Her beauty with this submission wrought such impression in the King that it was concluded betwixt them and by both parties agreed That at her honour should be the ranson of her Empire In conclusion they lovingly lay together and so ended these threatned hostilities in an amorous peace her body he left tainted but her Kingdome untouched She was that night with child by him of a son whom after his fathers name she called Alexander he inherited the Kingdome after her but by the Indians from that time forward in regard of her prostitution she was called the Kings whore Callipyge SO much were the Grecians given to all voluptuousnesse and pleasure that amongst others divers Chappels and Temples were dedicated to Venus Callipyga the word importing Quasi pulchras habens nates i. She that hath faire buttocks the originall of that superstition as Aegenaeus relates was this A Countrey Farmer being the father of two beautifull young Virgins these two concluded betwixt themselves which should have the priority in beauty But modesty forbidding them to dispute it with open faces they concluded between themselves to come to a place adjoining to the high-way and there to expose their back-parts naked to all such as passed by and so by the most voices to be censured Amongst many others a noble young young Gentleman of the next City by accident passing that way and somewhat astonished at so unwonted an object enquired the reason thereof and by one of the spectators being presently resolved â—e as suddenly gave the Palm to the elder and intimating by that he saw what the rest might prove grew greatly enamored and returning to his fathers house surprized with melancholly was of his brother demanded the cause he after some few bashful denials stil urged with the others importunacies discovered to him the whole circumstance of the businesse The brother desirous to be further instructed was by the lover conducted to the place and object which made him first grow enamoured whither he was no sooner brought but he grew presently inflamed with the love of the younger and gave his censure on her part These two had an old Senator to their father who much observed his children of him they demanded these virgins in marriage but he proposing to themselves matches more honourable they would no way assent But won at length with their importunacies he sent in their behalfe to the Farmer to demand his daugters in marriage An enterview was granted the parties agreed a marriage concluded and after comsummate with satisfaction on all sides From which time ever after the two young married wives were called Callipyga Of these Cercidas Megapolitanus in his lambicks to this purpose speaks These two lived in Syracusa who by their marriage having attained to wealth sufficient erected a famous Chappell to Venus whom they stiled Dea Callipyga These divers other Cities of Greece after them imitated This History Archelaus likewise in his Lambicks records Alogunes Cosmartidenes Andia YOU shall read in the History taken out of Ex Ctesiae Persicis That Artaxerxes being dead Xerxes his sonne succeeded the legitimate heir by his wife Damaspia who died the same day with her husband therefore to be registred amongst the women most illustrious after their deaths the Eunuch Bagorazus caused both their bodies to be born into Persia and there to be entombed amongst their ancestors It is remembred of this Emperor Artaxerxes that he had by severall concubins seventeen bastards amongst these was Secundianus born of Alogunes he by treason succeeded Xerxes having before slain his brother this Alogunes was born in Babylon By another concubine in the same City called Cosmartidenes he had two sons Ochus and Arsiâ—es this Ochus by supplanting his brother Secundianus reigning some few months succeeded him in the Empire Xerxes had issue likewise by one Andia a Lady of the same Nation Bagapaeus and Parisatis who was the mother of one Cyrus and another Artaxerxes Xerxes the Persian Emperour yet living gave to his
designs successfull proud of his victories and thinking himselfe to be Fortunes minion insomuch that despising the off-spring from whence he came he caused himselfe to be called the Son of Iupiter Being pufâ—ed up with these thoughts and swelling up in all ambitions he betook himselfe to all voluptuous delicâ—cies and of them to the most tempting riots of wine and women insomuch that lulled in all effeminacy he so far forgot both his high majesty and that commendable temperance for which he was before all his predecessors renowned that he sent as far as Athens for a notorious strumpet branded in her life though famous for her beauty called Potonice on whom the King was so much besotted that he not only gave her most Princely and magnificent gifts in her life time but after her death caused a Tomb to be erected over her body on which structure the King bestowed thirty talents It were strange if our English Chronicles should not affoord some or other to have correspondence with these Harlotta or Arlotta THis History is recorded by an Historiographer of ancient times who writes himselfe Anonymus or without name by Gulielm Malmsbury Vincentius Ranulphus Fabian Polydore and others As Robert Duke of Normandy and father to William the Conqueror rid through the Town of Falois he beheld a beautifull Virgin a Skinners daughter playing and dancing amongst other Virgins with whose feature being on the sudden surprized he so far prevailed by his secret messages and gifts that she was privatly conveied into the Dukes Chamber and there lodged and put in a bed to await his comming who glad of such a purchase without much circumstance made himselfe ready for the businesse intended The chamber cleared and the place voided and he ready to accomplish his desires she rent her smook from the chin to the foot to make the freer way for the Prince and he demanding the reason of her so doing she made him this pretty and ready answer It were neither fit nor comely that the neither part of my smock should be turned up and kisse the lips of my Lord at which the Duke was much delighted And 〈◊〉 night was begot William the Bastard whom our Chronicles honour with the name of Conquerour whether at first in memory of this least or since in disgrace of the Wanton it is not decided But from that Harlotta or Arlotta our prostitutes and common wenches are to this day in our Vulgar Tongue called Harlots In the yeer of our Lord 1036 Henry the second Emperour of that name was married to Guinilde the daughter of Canutus a Dane and King of England This Emperor had a sister a professed Nun whom he loved so entirely that oft times he would have her lie in his own Pallace and neer to his own privy chamber It hapned in a cold Winters night a Chaplain belonging to the Court it seems to keep her the warmer and one that had been before much suspected lay with her and in the morning lest both their fâ—otingâ— should be seen in the Snow newly fallen that night she took him up and carried him out of the Court towards his chamber The Emperour chancing as his custome was to rise just at the same hour was spectator of this close conveâ—ance and beheld how all the businesse hapned Not long after fell a Bisopwrick which the Priest expected and a Nunnery which the Nun much desired Whereupon the Emperour calling them before him the one after the other Take that Benefice saith he to the Priest but faddle no more the Nun And you the Abbesse saith he to his sister saddle no more the Priest or look thou never more bear Clerk riding upon thy back It is said that this served after for a modest chiding betwixt them and that they were parted upon these friendly terms Of divers Wantons belonging to sundry famous men and others ARistophanes Apollodorus Ammonius Antiphanes and Georgia Atheniensis of your Athenian strumpets writ at large as also of the like argument Theomander Cyrenaeus Elâ—us Amasides Theophrastus in lâ—bro Amatorio Polemon de Tabellis lib. 3. Ovid and infinite others out of whom may be collected many famous wantons in their times Oâ—ymus is the name of a strumpet much beloved of a skilfull Sophist in Corinth Thalatra of Dâ—ocles Corianno of Phâ—recrates Antea of Philillius otherwise called Eunicus Thais and Phannium of Menander Opora of Alexis Clepsydra of Eubulus for so Aâ—clepiades the son of Arius reports in his Commentary upon Demetrius Phalareus where he affirms her proper name to be rather Methica which Antiphanes writes to be the name of a wanton The Poet Timocles speaks of Cinâ— Nannium Plangon Lyca Pithionica Myrhina Christis Covallis Ieroclea Lopadium Of these likewise Amphis makes mention Anaxandries in his description of the madnesse of old men amongst others he reckons up Lagisca and Theolyte Polemon the Hâ—storiographer speaks of one Cottina whose Sâ—atue is erected in the City of Lacedemon not far from the Temple of Dionysius she is mounted upon a brazen Bull. Alcibiades was beloved by a woman of Aegida of whom he was likewise amorous after relinquishing Athens and Lacena of one Medontide of Abidos and with her sailed through the Hellespont with Axiochus a friend of his and much devoted to his fellowship for so the Orator Lysias witnesseth of him in an Oration made against him He had two other mistresses with whom he was conversant Damasandya the mother of Laâ—s Junior and Theodota by whom he was preserved when remaining in Melissa a City of Phrygia Pharnabazus laid trains to entrap his life Abrotonax was the mother of Themâ—stocles a strumpet as Amphicrates relates Neanthes Cyzicenus a Greek Historiographer cals him the son of Euterpe The second Philadelphus King of Aegypt had many famous Concubines as Ptolomaeus Everges in his Commentaries witnesseth Didima and Bilistiâ—he besides these Agathoclea and Stratonica whose monument was erected in the sea Elusina Myrtium with many others Polybius in his fourteenth book of Histories remembers one Clino that was his Cup-bearer in whose honour many Statues were erected in Alexandria Mnesides a she musician of the City Mnesis and one Pothinae his most delicate houses in which he took much delight he was wont to call after the name of two of his Paraâ—ors either Myrtiae or Pothinae Timothaeus the great Captain of the Athenians was known to be the son of a common woman of Threissa which being objected to him as an aspersion he answered I am glad to have been born of such a mother that had the wisedome to chuse Coâ—on to be my father Caristius in his historicall Commentaries avers Phileterus who soveraignized in Pergamus and the new Region called Boca to be the son of a wanton she Minstrel born in Paphlagonia Aristophon the Orator who in the reign of King Euclides published a Law That all such as were not born of civill and free women
Sirobyla by the name of Phano acknowledging her to be their own But lest with this multiplicity of Hâ—stories I shovld grow tedious here though abruptly I will pawse for the present Of Famous Wantons OF some of these something more at large It is a Maxim Amor ubique in natura Love is every where in Nature The Poets as Euripides and others called him The Great and most mighty of the gods and grave Aeschilus in Danais introduc'd his mother Venus thus saying Ferire purus Aether arva concupit Amorque terrae consequi vult Nuptias c. The pure air ever loves to stroke the fields And to the nuptials of the air th' earth yields The shours drop from the clear heavens and rain down To kisse the Earth and give her a fresh Gown Whose garments were late thred-bare even these prove In senslesse things congresse and marriage love Whose birth we look for where the Countrie Swain The Mid-wife plaâ—es and Apples Fruits and Grain Returns us in their time Then Ceres takes These infants to her charge nor them forsakes But whilst she can from all corruption saves Till being ripe for death we find them graves If you would know who first prescrib'd these lawes Of this free birth I Venus am the cause The like Euripides speaks in Hyppolitus If then this universality of Love be in senslesse creatures no marvel if it be so frequent in such as pretend to understand Herodotus lib. 1 saith it was a Law amongst the Babylonians That all women free-born and Denizens of the City were enjoined once in their life times to make repair to the Temple of Melitta for by that name the Assyrians called Venus and sitting in the Porch to subject themselves to the embraces of any stranger But some of the noblest and richest not willing to publish themselves to open prostitution were drawn thither in Chariots covered leaving their train and attendants behind them many sitting in the Temple in Pues or places allotted them with garlands upon their heads of which whilst some are called apart others still return for their passages to and fro are distinguished by small cords or strings which direct strangers unto such woman to whom they are most addicted But of these not any return to their houses after they have once took up their seats till some client hath cast some coin or other into her lap be it never so small or great and have had carnall company with her in a sequestred place of the Temple which done he is to say So much I did owe thee O goddesse Melitta Nor was any woman to refuse the monie that was offered her whatsoever it were because it was to be emploied in their supposed pious uses Neither was it lawful for a woman to refuse any man but she was compelled to follow him that cast the first coin into her apron This being done it was lawfull for her to mingle her selfe in prostitution with whom she pleased The fairest and most beautifull were for the most part soonest dispatcht but others that have been ugly and deformed have been forced to sit in the Temple some one some two some three years and upwards before they could meet with any by whose help they might give satisfaction to the Law return to their own houses and make use of their free liberty The like custome though not in every particular was in Cyprus Amongst the Caâ—nians a people in Coria there was a yearly convention of young men and women to the like purpose as the same Author in the same book affirms Aelianus de var. Histor lib. 4. saith That the Lydian women before their marriage presented themselves for gain till they had purchased to themselves a competent dowrie but having once selected a husband they from that time lived in all continence and chastity From this generality I come to particulars and first of Thau She was a strumpeâ— of Corinth whose beauty bewitched all the Attick youth Her the Greek Poet Menander in his works most celebrated of whom she was called Menandraea Clitarchus specifies unto us That she was much beloved of Alexander the Great at whose request after the conquest of Cyrus all the Imperial Pallaces of Persepolis with the greatest part of the City were â—et on fire and burned down to the earth This strumpet after the death of Alexander was married to the first Ptolomey of Aegypt by whom she had two sons Leontiscus and Legus with one daughter called Irene whom Solon King of Cyprus after took to wife Lamia was a Courtizan of Athens and entired to Demetrius a Lord of many Nations insomuch that in his Armour and Crown with his Imperial Diadem he was often seen publikely to enter her roof to converse with her and eat at her Table It had been lesse dishonour for so great a person to have given her meeting more privately In this one thing Diodorus the minstrel was preferred before Demetrius who being divers times sent for to this Courtizans house refused to come This Lamia was wont as Aelianus lib. 1. reports to compare the Greeks to Lions and the Ephesians to Wolves Gnathaena was of the same Countrie and born in Athens of whom it is thus remembered A noble fellow drawn as far as the Hellesport by the attractive fame of her beauty she gave him both meeting and entertainment of which he growing proud and somewhat insolent using much loquacity and superfluous language being in the heat of wine and lust she asked him Whether as he pretended became from the Hellespont To whom he answered He did She replied And do you know the name of the chiefe City there He told her Yes She then desired him to give it name He told her it was called Sygaeum By which she ingeniously reproved his verbositie since Sygae of which Greek word the City takes denomination signifieth silence and taciturnity Of her prompt and witty answers the Poet Machon sets down many for she was held to be wondrous facetious and scoâ—â—ing and exceedingly beloved of the Poet Diphilus Lynceus likewise remembers many things concerning her Pausonius Lacus being dancing in her presence in doing a lofty trick above ground and not able to recover himselfe he fell headlong into a vessel that stood by See saith she Lacus in cadum incidit i. The Pool hath powered himselfe into the Vessel Lacus not only signifies a Pool but a Vessel which receiveth the wine when it is pressed Another offering her a small quantity of wine in a great and large bowle and told her withall That it was at least seventeen years old Truly answered she it is wondrous little of the age Two young men in the heat of wine quarrelling about her and going to buffers to him that had the worst she thus said Despair nor youth Non enim Coronarium est certamen sed Argenteum i. This was a prize for monie only not for a Garland When one had given her fair daughter who was of the same
write them all at large they cannot exceed that piety of which I have read in women Suetonius and Cicero in an Oration pro Caelio speaking of Claudia one of the Vestall Virgins thus report of her She seeing her father in his triumphant Chariot riding through the streets of Rome and by the Tribunes of the people who envied his glory pluckt and haled from his seat she with a wondrous dexterity and a masculine audacity freed him from the hands of their Tribunes and their Lictors and maugre all their opposition lifted him up into his chariot nor sook him till she saw him in all magnificent pomp received into the Capitol insomuch that it was questioned amongst the Romans which of them merited the greater triumph he for his vertue and valour in the Forum or she for her zeal and piety in the Temple of Vesta nor can it yet be decided which may claim a just prioritie the Father for his victory or the Daughter for her goodnesse Plin. lib. 7. cap. 36. and Solinus speak of another Roman Lady of a noble Family who when her mother was condemned at the judgement-seat by the Praetor and delivered up to one of the Triumviri to be committed to strait prison and there for her offence to be privately executed But the keeper of the Goale commiserating the Matron so sentenced either because he pitied her gravity or suspected her innocence did not cause her to be instantly strangled according to the rigour of her sentence At the importunacy of the daughter he gave her leave to visit and comfort her mother but narrowly searcht before her entrance into the prison lust she should carry with her any food or sustenance to her relifefe rather desiring she should perish by famine and die that way then himselfe to have any violent hand in her execution The daughter having daily accesse to the mother who now had past over more daies then the keeper thought was possibly by nature and wondring in himself how she should draw her thred of life out to that length without any means to maintein it he casting a more curious eie upon the young woman and watching her might perceive how she first drew out one breast and after another with her own milk relieving her mothers famine At the novelty of so strange and rare a spectacle being amazed he carried newes to the Triumvir he to the Praetor the Praetor related it to the Consuls they brought it before the Senat who to recompence what was good in the daughter pardoned all that was before thought ill in the mother For what will not love devise or whither true zeal not penetrate What more unheard or unexpected thing could be apprehended then for a mother to be fed from the breast of her daughter Who would not imagine this to be against nature but that we see by proof true naturall piety transcends all bounds and limits The like of this we may read â—f in Pliry of another young married woman who when her father Cimon was afflicted with the same sentence and subject to the like durance prolonged his life from her breasts for which she deserves equally to be memorised Our parents in no danger or necessities are to be by us abandoned and that by example of Aeneas in whose person Virgil thus speaks as to his father Anchises Aeneid 2. Eia agâ— chare pater cervici imponere nostrae Ipse suâ—â—bo numeris nec me laboriste gravabit c Come my dear father and get up for see No burthen to my shoulders you can be No weight at all and hap what can betide One danger or one safety we 'll abide Sabellâ—â— lib. 3. cap. 6. remembers us of Rusticana a noble Matron of Rome and the daughter of Synnarchus who with his brother Boetius the famous Philosoher being put to death by Theodoricirs King of the Gotâ—s She after the Tirants miserable end was the cause that all his Statues in Rome were demolished and ruined purposing utterly if it were possible to extirp his memory that was the imhumane murderer of her father for which fact of hers being called in question before King Totila who succeeded him she was so far from excuse or deniall that she approved the deed with all constancy whose not le magnanimity and resolution proved more available to her safety then any timorous evasion could have done for he not only dismissed her unpunished but highly applauded and commended Fulgos Sabellicus and Egnâ—tius writing of Alboinuâ— King of the Longobards who at his first entrance into Italy having subdued and slain Tâ—rismundus whom some call Cunimundus son to Cunimundus King of the Gepidanes and after taken his daughter Rosamunda to wife the History faith he made a bole of her fathers scul in which one night having drunk somewhat lavishly he caused it to be filled with wine and sent to Rosamunda then in her chamber with this message Commend me to thy Queen aâ—d â—ay I command her to drink with her father 〈…〉 though she knew him to be slain by the 〈◊〉 gobards receiving his death by a common casualtie and chance of 〈◊〉 by this assuring her selfe that he â—ell by the â—and oâ— her husband betwixt 〈…〉 and conjugall love being for a time distracted the bond of her affectiâ—n towards her father prevailed above those nuptial setters in which she was tied to her Lord insomuch that to revenge the death of the one she resolved to take away the life of the other to bring which about she devised this project she had observed one Hemegâ—ldus a noble man amongst the Lambard to be surprized with the love of one of her waiting Gentlewomen with whom she dealt so far that when her maid had promised to give this Hemegildus meeting in a private and dark chamber she her selfe supplied the place of her servant after 〈◊〉 congression she caused lights to be brought in that he â—iâ—ht know with whom he had had carnall company and what certein prejudice he had the 〈◊〉 incurred protesting 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉 he would join with her in the dear 〈…〉 she would accuse him of rape and outrage The Lambâ—â—d to prevent his own disaster undertook his soveraign â—eath which was accordingly betwixt them performed The murder done they sled together to Ravenna she preferring the revenge of a slaughtered father before the life of a husband the title of a Queen State Sovereignty oâ— any other worldly dignity whatsoever Something is not amisse to be spoken in this place concerning the love of mothers to their children which as Plutarch in his 〈…〉 saith was excellently observed in 〈…〉 Prince of the Athenians who was wont to say That he â—new no reason but that this young son whom his mother most datâ—ngly affected should have more power and command thâ—n any one man in Greece whatsoever and being demanded the reason he thus answered Athens saith he commands all Greece I Themistocles have predominance ever Athens my wife over swaies me and my
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
sons but if none of their issue be leâ—e alive they chuse out of the people the most beautiful and warlike withall whom 〈◊〉 create their Prince and Soveraign Even amongst the 〈◊〉 M. Aâ—relius Commodus so dearly affected his sister that being called by his mother to divide their 〈◊〉 patrimony betwixt them he conferred it wholly upon her contenting himselfe with his grandfathers revenue Pontanus de lib. cap. 11. I will end this discourse concerning sisters with one History out of Sabellious l. â— cap. 7. the same confirmed by â—â—â—gosius lib. 5. cap. 5. Intaphernes was say they one of these confederate Princes who freed the Persian Empire from the usurpâ—tion of the Magician brothers and conferred it upon Darius who now being established in the supreme dignity Intaphernes having some businesse with the King made offer to enter his chamber but being rudely put back by one of his grooms or waiteâ—â— he took it in such scorn that no lesse revenge would satisfie his rage then to cut off his ears and nose of which the King having present notice his indignation exceeded the others rage for he gave commandment That for his insolence and outrage done in she Pallace and so neer his presence that not only Intaphernes the Dâ—linquent but all the male issue of his stock and race whatsoever should be laid hold upon and after to the dread and terror or the like offenders by mercilesse death cast the terror of the Kings incensement The sentence of their apprehension was performed and their execution hourly expected when the wife of Intaphernes cast her selfe groveling before the Court gate with such pitiful ejaculations and clamours that they came even to the ears of Darius and much penetrated him being uttered with such passionate and moving acceâ—ts able to mollifie the Flint or soften Marble Imprest therefore with her pitious lamentations the King sent unto her That her teares and clamours had so far prevailed with him â—hat from the condemned society they had ransomed one and one only to continue the memory of their Name and Family chuse amongst them all whose life she most favoured and whose safety with the greatest affection desired but further then this to grant her his sentence was unalterable None that heard this small yet unexpected favour from the King but presently imagined she would either redeem her husband or at least one of her sons two of them being all she had then groning under the burthen of that heavy sentence But after some small meditation beyond the expectation of all men she demanded the life of her brother The King somewhat amazed at her choice sent for her and demanded the reason Why she had preferred the life of a brother before the safety of such a noble husband or such hopeful children To whom she answered Behold O King I am yet but young and in my best of years and I may live to have another husband and so consequently by him more children But my father and mother are both aged and stricken in years and should I lose a Brother I should for evermore be deprived of that sacred Name At which words the King exceedingly moved to see with what a fraternall zeal they were spoken he not only released her brother but added to his unexpected bounty the life of her eldest son Of Matrimony or Conjugall Love IT was inserted in Plato's Lawes That what man soever lived a Batchelor above five and thirty years of age was neither capable of Honour of Office Alexand. ab Alex. lib 4. cap. 8. Licurgus the Lawgiver amongst the Lacedemonians as the same Author testifies to shew the necessity of marriage made a Decree That all such as affected singlenesse and solitude of life should be held ignominious They were not admitted to publike Plaies but in the winter were compelled to passe through the Market-place naked and without garments The Law of the Spartans set a fine upon his head best that married not at all next on him that married not till he was old and lastly on him they set the greatest mulct that married an evill wife or from a strange Tribe Stobae Sermon 65. Fuigosius cals the Judgements Cacogamia and Opsigamia lib 2. cap. 1. So laudable and reverent was Marriage amongst the Lacedemonians procreation of Children and fertility of issue That whosoever was the father of three children should be free from Watch or Ward by day or night and whosoever had four or upward were rewarded with all Immunities and Liberty This Law was confirmed by Q. Metellus Numidicus Censor after approved by Julius Caesar and lastly established by Augustus Memorable are the words of Metellus in a publike Oration to the people If we could possibly be without wives O Romans saith he we might all of us be free from molestation and trouble but since Nature excites us and necessity compels us to this exigent That we can neither live with them without inconvenience nor without them at all more expidient it is therefore that we aim at the generall and lasting profit then at our own private and moment any pleasure â—ruson lib 7. cap. 22. The Athenians the Cretans the Thuâ—â—ans all in their Statutes and Ordinances encouraged Marriage and punished the obstinary of such as took upon them the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and sollitaude either with amercement or disgrace To that purpose was the Law Julia instituted that incited young men in their prime and flourishing age to the marriage of wives propagation of issue and education of children and that such should be encouraged by rewards and the opposers thereof to be deterred with punishments Tiberius Caesar deprived one of his Quaestorship because he divorced himselfe from his wife having been but three daies married alledging That he in whom there was such lightnesse could not be profitable for any thing Claudius Caesar caused the Law Papia to be abrogated giving men of threescore years and upwards the free liberty to marry as at those years of ability to have issue Theodoretus lib. 1. cap. 7. and Sozomenus lib. 1. cap. 10. both write that in the Nicene Council when certain of the Bishops would introduce into the Church a new Decree before that time not known namely That all Bishops Prelates Priests Deacons and Spirituall or Religious men should be made uncapable of Marriage as also all such as in the time of their 〈◊〉 before they took the Ministry or any service of the Church upon them should be separated from 〈◊〉 wives of whom they were then possest One Paphnutius Confessor who was likewise Bishop of a City in the upper Thebats stood up and with great fervency opposed the motion yet a man of approved chastity and great austerity of 〈◊〉 who though he were mightily opposed yet at length so far prevailed with the Synod of the Fathers that it was definitively concluded That though the marriage of Priests were â—â—â—dicted and singlenesse of life in joined them yet all such as had wives were dispensed withall till
for be that about him by which he should be better 〈◊〉 His entrance was granted but being suspected by the guard because they perceived him hide something fâ—lded up in his garment they searched him and found a head cut off but by reason of the palenesse of the face which was disfigured with the clottered and congealed blood the countenance thereof could hardly be discerned The servant was brought in with the head still dropping blood in his hand At which the King more wondring desired by her to be better satisfied concerning the Novel to whom she boldly replied Lo here O Alexander the end of thy many troubles and fears the head of the great Captain Spitamenes who though my husband yet because he was thine enemy I have caused his head to be cut off and here present it unto thee At the horridnesse of these words the King with all that stood by were abashed every one glad of the thing done but in their hearts detesting the manner of the deed The Lady still expecting an answer Alexander after some pause thus replied I must confesse Lady the great câ—urtesie and infinite benefit received from you in presenting me the head of an out-Law a Traitor and one that was to me a great obstacle and an hinderance in the smooth passage to my intended victories but when I understand it to be done by the hands of a woman nay a wife the strange horridnesse of the fact tâ—kes away all the thanks and reward due to the benefit I therefore command you instantly to depart the Camp and that with all speed possible for I would not have the savage and inhumane examples of the Barbarians contaminate and infect the mild and sort temper of the noble Grecians With which words she was instantly hurried from his presence As noble a president of Justice in a Prince as it was an abhorred example of cruelty in a most unnaturall wife Q. Curt. lib. 8. de Alexandri Hâ—stor From a remorselesse wife I come now to as obdurate a stepmother Pelops having married Hyppodamia the daughter of Tantaâ—us and Eurianassa had by her two sons Thiestes and Atreus and by the nymph Danais a third son called Crisippus to which he seemed outwardly better affected then to the former on whom King Laius of Thebes casting an amorous eye at length stole him from his father But Pelops with his two sons by Hyppodamia made war upon Laius took him prisoner and recovered Crisippus and when he truly understood that love was the cause of his rape he was attoned with Laius and an inviolable league of amity combined betwixt them Whilst the Theban yet sojourned with Pelops Hyppodamia perswaded with Atreus and Thiesles to conspire against the life of Crisippus as one that aimed at the succession of the Kingdome but not prevailing she meditated with her selfe how to despoile him of life with her own hands when having conveied the sword of Laius out of his chamber when he was fast sleeping she came to the bed of Crisippus and transpierced him as he lay leaving the sword still in his body and left the place still undiscovered accusing the Theban for his death but the youth not fully dead recovered so much spirit as to discover the murtheresse for which King Laius was acquitted and she from her husband received condign punishment for her immâ—nity and murther Dosythaeus in Pelopedâ—s Progne to revenge the rape of her sister Philomela upon her husband Terâ—us King of Thrace feasted him with the body of his own son Ilis of which you may read at large in Ovid's Metamorphosis Some women have been so unnaturall as to betray their fathers After Troy was utterly subverted and despoiled King Diomede one of the most valiant amongst the Kings of Greece in the return towards his Country being by storms and tempests violently cast upon the coast of Thrace where Lycas the son of Mars 〈◊〉 reigned and according to the bloody custome of the Country sacrificed all such strangers as landed upon his Continent his daughter Callirhoe surprised with the love of King Diomede not only released him from durance but betraied the life of Lycus her father into into his hands notwithstandingâ—â—ne most â—â—eâ—cherously left her for which ingratitude and urged with remorse of conscience for proving so unnaturall to him from whom she had her being by strangling her selfe she despairingly expired Juba lib. 3. Libicorum Paralleld with this is that which we read of Calphâ—nius Crassus an illustrious Roman and sent by M. Regulus against the Massilians to take in a most defensible Castle called Garaetium but by the crosse disaster of fortune being surprized in the siege thereof and reserved the next day to be sacrificed to Saturn being in despair either of rescue or life Besaâ—ia daughter to the King who was then possest of the Fort falling in love with Calphurnius not only delivered up unto him the Keies of the Castle that he might freely escape with life but betraied unto him the liberty and life of her father but after being degenerately forsaken by him she desperately slew herself Hegesinax lib. 3. rerum Africarum I am weary with setting down these immauities in women and Polyhymnia invites me to a new argument Of Women strangely preserved from death and such as haue unwillingly been the death of their fathers NIceas Maleotes as Plutarch in his thirteenth Parallel testates reports that when Hercules for the love of Iâ—le the daughter of Cacus invaded Occhalia and she abhorring the embraces of him who had before slain her father retired her selfe for safety into the strongest Cittadell in her Country in which being straightely besieged by Hercules and the Fort ready to be surprized and taken she having no way to escape and unwilling to stand to the mercy of so loving an enemy mounted up into the highest Turâ—et of the Castle and from thence cast her selfe headlong down towards the Earth but the wind gathering under her loose garments so extenuated the fall that she came the ground without any hurt at all by which miraculous fortune she enjoied a desperate life and Hercules a most desired mistresse Answerable to this is that which Theophilus Italicorum tertio relates The Romans in the Etrurian war instituted Valerius Torquatus Generall of their forces he having beheld Clusia the daughter of the Tusoan King grew enamoured of the Virgin and sent Embassadors to demand her of her father but she not willing to make any contract with her Countries enemy and her father as loth to contradict his daughter the motion and offer of Torquatus was peremptorily denied at which inraged he begitt the City with a strong and fearful siege ingaging the defendants to all dangers and difficulties insomuch that Clusia timorous of surprisall and pâ—â—ferring death before captivity threw her selfe from the highest part of the wall to destroy her selfe in the open view and face of the enemy but either as the former late mentioned favoured by the winds or as
my Author tels me greatly supported by the hand of Venus or whether the pitious earth unwilling to hurt or harm such fair and wel-featured limbs and therefore with more then accustomed courtesie favourably received her into her into her lap I am not certaine but the Lady to the wonder of all the beholders was taken up whole and sound without wound or the least astonishment and from thence conducted to the Tent of the Generall who because he made but offer to violate her chastity the ever nobly minded Romans not only took from him the charge of the Army alledging that he that could not govern his own affections was not fit to command others but confined him into the Island Coâ—sica adjacent neer to the continent of Italy Not much lesse strange was that of Perhibaea the daughter of Accathous who when Telamon the son of Aeacus and Eudeides came into the City of 〈◊〉 where she then 〈◊〉 with her father and took her at that advantage that she was by him deviâ—gined and 〈◊〉 his name or person not being known by her oâ— any and so privily escaped and fled away by night 〈◊〉 after perceiving her by assured tokens to be grown big with child and suspecting it to be done by some one of his Citizens or Subjects he was thereat so incensed that banishing all piety or patenall pity he delivered her into the hands of one of his Captains commanding him either to kil her with his sword or cast her into the sea the souldier undertakes the imposition of his Soveraign upon him with many vowes and protestations to perform his pleasure with all strictness and severity but by the way commâ—â—â—â—ting her wretched fortune and loth to be the 〈◊〉 of such youth and beauty created for better use comming neer the Sea-shore and spying a ship there at Anchor he sold her to the chief merchant for a sum of monie returning to the father with an assured relation of his daughters death The 〈◊〉 presently with this fair purchase hoised saile and a 〈◊〉 and gentle gale favouring them they attained unto the Port of Salamine and there harboured where purposing to make sale of their merchandise they exposed them to the publique view amongst the rest they set a price on the Princesse Perhibaea Tâ—lamon who was Duke of Salamine and then resiant in the City took his attendants with him and hearing of this new Merchant went down to the 〈◊〉 to take the first view of his goods and provide himselfe of such things as he wanted amongst all the fair Perhibaea pleased him best whose face he well knew and still remembred what had past betwixt them he bargained for her paid down her price conducted her to his Pallace and there acquainted her with the true passage of all his former proceedings Within few months she brought him a son which he called Ajax and this was that Ajax Telamon who at the siege of Troy betwixt the two armies combatted with bold Hector in the plain of Scamander you shall read this History in Aretades Guidius in his second book inscribed Insulâ— The next that insues hath correspondence with this Lucius Trocius had a beautifull young daughter called Florentia she was stuprated by the Roman Calphurnius and when the act came to the knowledge of her father delivered to the trusty executioner to be cast into the Sea who in the same manner was by him pitied and sold to a Merchant his ship being then bound for Italy where she being exposed to publique sale was seen known and bought by Calphurnius by whom he had a son called Contruscus I proceed to such as have unwittingly been the death of their parents Evenus the son of Mars and Steropes by his wife Alcippa the daughter of Oâ—nnemanus had a beautifull female issue whom he called Marpissa who had vowed perpetuall virginity her Idas the son or Aphareus ravished and stole away which her father hearing prosecuted him even unto his own Country but in vain for not able to overtake them and returning without her in griefe of his lost daughter whom he so deerly loved he threw himselfe into the river Lycormus and was there drowned some think that by his death the stood lost his name and was ever after celled Evenus Dâ—sithae lib 1. rerum Italicarum Anius King of the Etruscious having a rarely featured damosell to his daughter called Salia whose virginity he had vowed to Diana and therefore admitted no suitors though many great and rich offers made unto her at length as she was spotting abroad amongst other Virgins she was espied by one Calthetas a hopefull young Gentleman and â—â—nobled by his family who at the stâ—st sight of her was so extasi'd with her beauty that maugre all tear of pursuit or danger he snatcht her up in his arms and used such means that he got her safe within the wals of Rome Her father following the ravisher but not overtaking him was struck into such a deep sorrow that desperate of all comfort or counsel he violently cast himselfe into the next Foord that parted Rome and his own Kingdome which ever since that time still bears the name of Anius Calihetus had by Salia two brave sons Latinus and Salinus who were famous in their noble and flourishing issue insomuch that some of the best and greatest Families in Rome were proud from them to derive their ancestrie This history is recorded by Aristides Milesius by Alexander and Polihistor lib. tertio Italicorum Of Clamorous Women commonly called Scolds GNeius Pompeius to make his faction the stronger by his friend Munatius sent to Cato that he would be pleased of his two Neeces to contract the one of them to himselfe the other to his son by whom Cato sent word back to Pompeius That though he as a friend took gratefully the free proffer of his friendship and allyance yet being a man he had ever kept himselfe from being intricated in the snares of women but he protested he would adhere unto him in a more firm league of amity than could be contracted by kindred if he would study any thing conducent and profitable for the Common-weal but against the publique good he would neither give nor take hostages calling his Neeces who as some write were his daughters given so in matrimony no better then pledges of much future inconvenience especially in matters of State where the Common-weal is distracted and divided Eras 5. Apophtheg Socrates was wont to say that he had patiently suffered three torments Grammer Poverty and a scolding Wife Xintippe two of which he had prettily well evaded namely Grammer and Poverty but the morosity of a scold he could never put off Anton. Parle 2. Meless Serm. 34. The like may be said of Sausarion the Comick Poet equally tormented with a bitter and railing wife Pittacus Mitelenus having married the sister of Dâ—aco the son of Penthilius a proud insolent and railing woman perswaded a deer friend of his to marry with the
other sister for if he were never so much given to wrath and anger she would teach him sufferance and patience Laertius when Georgias the Sophist at the solemnity of the Olympick games had made an elaborate Oration concerning concord and to perswade men to uninity one Mâ—lanthius in the conclusion or catastrophe thereof spake aloud This man perswades all Greece to peace who having but one wife and three maids at home yet his house is never without clamour and dissention and with all his smooth filed phrases cannot make his own peace Eras 6. Apophtheg Mar. Pacuvius upon a time said weeping to his familiar friend and neighbor Actius alias Arius Deer friend saith he I have a tree in my garden in my mind the most prodigious and unhappy that ever the earth produced or gave sap unto for upon that my first wife hanged her selfe and after that the second and now but this morning my third and last to whom Arius his neighbour replied I wonder you being a learned man and approved for your wisdome should be any way grieved at these successes and chances Dâ—i boni inquit quot tibi dispendia arbor iste suspendit i. Oh you gods how many of thy dammages and losses hast thou hanged upon that tree and proceeded thus Deer friend give me some of those grafts and syents that I may plant them in my Orchard or garden Valerius records this in an Epistle to Rufinus As also Cicero reports the like of a Cicilian in 2 de Orat. and Gyraldus Dial. 8. Poetarum Even Cato Ceasortus could not escape a brawling and crabbed wiâ—e though he married her from an ignoble stock and family Guid Bitturn saith That Hadrianus had a wife called Sabina hard perverse untoward rude in her behaviour towards her husband and worthy to be repudiated and her bed and society abandoned Alphonsus King of Naples demanding of one Antonius Panormita What noble Neapolitan Gentlemen were delighted in Hunting or whether any late Writer had published any Treatise concerning the goodnesse and excellency of dogs To whom Panormitâ— answered I beseech thee O King rather ask this Knight pointing to one that was then in presence who can better resolve you who for the space of forty years hath been continually so conservant amongst such creatures that every night he beddeth with a Canicula which word as it signifieth a Bâ—ach or Bitch so it is taken for a detractor or snarling slanderer as also for a Dog-fish and proceeded Therefore he O King can best describe unto you their natures and conditions This Knight of Naples whose name for his honors sake is concealed only smiled at the taunt given by Antonius well apprehending that by Canicula he intended his wife a woman barkingly clamorous most contentious and bitter Pontanus Gregorius Hamburgensis a famous ond eloquent Lawyer amongst all the German practisers the most approved when all his busie imploiments were ended in the Court of Caesar where he was staied some two months or thereabouts and as we say in our English phrase the Terme being and he returning home to his own house not far from the Town of Nurimburgh where he then dwelled he met with a friend and neighbour who after some familiar salutes past betwixt them told him That his wife was living and in good health at home to whom shaking his head he made this short reply 〈◊〉 vivit saneobâ—◠〈◊〉 If my wife be living then am I but dead thereby intimating that the moâ—osity of a câ—rst wife is no better then a daily death to her husband Aeneas 〈…〉 reb Gestis Alphonsâ—â— Thisponius the 〈…〉 of the learned Councel to King Alphonsus having at one time three hundred pieces of Gold stoln from 〈◊〉 which was part of the Dower of a perverse and peevish 〈◊〉 whom he had lately married for which being wondrous 〈◊〉 and pensive in the presence of the King Alphoâ—sus looking upon him and seeming to commiserate his sadnesse broke out into these terms O how happy a man were Thisponius if the theeves had stolne away his wife and left the Gold behind them Pâ—normita lib 1 de Gestis Alphons Euripides the most excellent of thâ— Greek Tragick Poets had two wives the name of the first was Cherâ—le or as Sâ—â—das cals her Chaerinâ— the daughter of Mâ—nâ—silâ—chus by whom he had three sons Mâ—â—siloches the Actor or Stage-plaier Mnesarchides the Merchant and the third Euâ—â—pides the Orator yet partly for suspition of adultery and by reason he led with her an unquiet life after so hopeful an issue she was divorced from him After this separation he married another called Melitto who being apprehended in adultery with Ctesiphon the Plaier he was so branded for a Cuckold and so taunted and jeasted at by the Comick Poets in the publique Theater that he was forced to leave the City and to remove himselfe into Macedonia where he spent the remainder of his life in the Court of King Archelaus Gel. lib. 15. cap. 20. Athenaeus lib. 13. Arnus Tarquinius and Tullâ—a lived together in perpetuall discord and dissention by reason of her unto 〈◊〉 and crabbed condition Adrianus Bâ—rlâ—ndus tels us of an Inne keeper or Host a pleasant and trolick fellow who when a guest of his complained unto him that he â—ould not endure such noise and clamour for his wives tongue never ceased walking finding fault with this thinâ— then that besides there was no cessation of her perpetuall brawling and chiding with her maids and servants To whom the merry Host replied And I pray my friend is this a just cause for your impatience or discontent What do you think of me then that for two and thirty yeers space have had this noise and clamour continually in mine eaâ—s night and day without ceasing and yet you see with what sufferance I bear it and cannot you endure it for the space of a few minutes By which words he not only gave present satisfaction to his guest but converted his wives anger into laughter Servius Tullius King of the Romans conferr'd upon his two daughters upon the two Tarquins Aruns and Superbus of severall dispositions were the men and of sundry conditions the women as they were opposite in humour they were as unfitly disposed To Aruns a man of a quiet and â—â—ld temper Tullia Lady 〈◊〉 and daring was given on Superbus a Prince haughty and insolâ—nâ— the other being a modest and â—eek Lady was bestowed Disparity of minds could not brook the inequality of manners Therefore bold and bloody Tullia poisons her faire and gentle conditioned Aruns the other modest and mild-tempered sister is made away by the proud and ambitious Superbus the best are lost the worst left They two contract an incestuous Marriage Pride with Cruelty and Immanity with Ambition Murther is the ground oâ— cause and Treason and Usurpation the prodigious effect she complots the death of her own naturall father and he the ruine of his liege Lord and Sovereign she a Parâ—icide he a Râ—gicide The
the Muses she had a son called Erotus who inhabited the mountain Pernassus and was wholly devoted to Hunting and the Chase Spaco was Nurse to Cyrus who because that word in the Median Language signifies a Brache for so saith Herodotus in Clio. Archimorus the son Licurgus King of Thrace whose Nurse was called Hypsiphyle being left by her in the fields was fed by a Serpent Teste Statio Ericlia or Euriclia was the Nurse to Vlysses Homer in Odyss and Ovid. in Epist Cajeta was Nurse to Aeneas lib. 7. Aenead Tu quoque â—â—toribus nostris Aeneia Nutrix Aeternam moriens famam Cajeta dedisti And thou Aeneas Nurse Cajeta Vnto our Shores hast left A never dying fame because There of thy life bereft Alcibiades had a Nurse whose name was Amiâ—la or as some would have it Amida his schoolmaster was Zopyrus so saith Plutarch in Lycurg Alcibiad Hellanice was the Nurse to Alexander the great witnesse Qu. Curtius Acca Laventia was Nurse to Alexander so saith Pliny lib. 18. cap. 2. so Statius lib. 1. Sil. in this Disticon Jam secura parens Thuscis regnabat in agris Ilia portantem lassabat Romulus Accam Our parent Ilia now secure The Tuscan waters keeps The whilst in Accaes wearied arms Young Romulus fast sleeps Yet Livy and almost all the Roman Historiographers write rhat Romulus and Remus were nursed by Lupa wife to the shepherd Faustulus she was so called because she prostituted her selfe for gain they were cast out by the King Amulius and was found by the bounds of Tyber Pliny cals her Acca Laurentia Philix was Nurse to the Emperor Domitian who when he was slain and his corse lay derided and neglected took up his body and putting it into a common Bear caused it by ordinary and mercenary bearers to be carried to the suburbs wherein she lived and interred it in the Latin high way Author Sueton. Macrina was a pious and religious woman the disciple and scholer of Greg. Neocaesariensis she was Norse and school mistress in the first foundation of Christian Religion to the great Basilius as he himselfe witnesseth in an Epistle to the Neocaesarienses From Nurses a word or two of Midwives Phaenarite was one the mother of Athenean Socrates she is remembred to be the first that disputed of Morality that which we call Ethick Instructions and taught the mysticall Philosophy of the Stars and Planets how it might be made familiar and have correspondence with our humane and terrestriall actions The son imitated the mother and proved as happy a Midwife of the mind as she of the body both helping into the world ripe timely and fruitful issues Volaterran lib. 19. Laertius in ejus vita and Valerius Maxim lib. 3. cap. 4. Pliny lib. 28. cap. 7. speaks of two Midwives the one called Sotyra the other Salpe whose opinions and rules he observeth in the cures of many diseases of Salpe he speaks more largely lib. 32. cap. 6. Lycosthenes speaks of one Philippa Midwife to Iolanta who indured many distresses and changes of fortune Of Stepmothers I will only name some few and so passe them over because where they be can be exprest nothing but malice and unnaturall cruelty in women The histories must of force appear harsh and unpleasant besides some of their bloody acts I have touched before under another title Ino was Stepmother to Phrixus and Helles the daughter of Athamus Hyppodamia to Chrisippus Stratonice to Antiochus Soter Julia to Anton. Caracalla Gedica to Cominius Juno to Hercules Opaea to Scylis King of Scythia Eribaea to Mercury Alphriga to Edward the second of that name before the Conquest King of England Martina to Constantinus Heraclius whom she slew by poison c. Of Women for their Piety and Devotion remembred in the sacred Scriptures I Desire to leave nothing unspecified or not remembred in this work that might not make the excellency of good Women oppose in all contradiction the excesse of the bad and to draw if it were possible the worst to the imitation of the best Hanapus cap. 125. commemorates these Rebecka who when she saw the servant of Abraham at the Well where she came to draw water and desiring to drink answered cheerfully and without delay Drink Sir and I will also draw water for thy Camels till they have all drunk their fill Genes 24. The Midwives feared God and did not according to the command of Pharaoh King of Aegypt but preserved the male-children whom they might have destroied Exodus 1. The daughter of Pharaoh comming down to the river to wash her selfe with her handmaid and finding the young child Moses in the Ark amongst the bulrushes she had compassion on the infant and said Surely this is a child of the Hebrews so caused him to be nursed brought up in her fathers Court and after adopted him to be her son Exod. 2. Rahab the strumpeâ— when she knew the spies of Joshua to be pursued and in danger of death concealed them and returned them safe to the army Josh 2. The messengers that were sent to David in the wildernesse to inform him of the proceeding of his son Absolon were by a woman hid in a Well which she covered and by that means deluded their pursuers 1 King 2. 17. When two common women contended before Solomon about the living and dead infant the one had a tender and relenting breast and could not endure to see the living child perish 1 Kin. 3. 3. The widdow woman of Zarephath enterteined Eliah as her guest and by her he was relieved 1 King 17 9. The Shunamitish woman perswaded with her husband that the Prophet Elisaeus might have a convenient lodging in her house to go and come at his pleasure 1 King 4. 2. When wicked Athalia had given strict command to destroy all the Kings seed Josaba the daughter of King Ioram took Ioas one of the Kings children and by hiding him out of the way preserved his life 1 King 4. 11. Hester having commiseration of her people when a severe edict was published to destroy them all and sweep them from the face of the earth she exposed her selfe with the great danger of her own life to the displeasure of King Ahashuerosh purchasing thereby the freedome of her Nation and her own sublimity Hester 4. 5. Women ministred to the Savior of the world in his way as he went preaching to the Towns and Cities Luke 8. when he walked from place to place preaching and teaching he is said never to have had more free and faithfull welcome then in the house of Martha and Mary Luke 10. Iohn 12. When the Scribes and Pharisees blasphemed at the hearing and seeing the Doctrine and Miracles of Christ a certain woman giving devour attention to his words as extasi'd with his divine Sermon burst forth into this acclamation Blessed be the womb that bare thee and the brests that gave thee suck Luke 11. Christ being in Bethania in the house of Simon the leaper as
the Tomb. Next to the sin I will place the punishment Jacob blessing his children said to Reuben Thou shalt be poured out like water thine excellency is gone because thou hast defiled thy fathers bed Gen. 49. Absolon went in to his fathers concubines and was soon after slain by the hand of Joab 1 Kings 2. 16. 18. Of later times I will instance one Nicolaus Estensis Marquesse of Ferrara who having notice that his son Hugo a toward and hopefull young Gentleman had borne himself more wantonly then reverence and modesty required in the presence of his stepmother Parisia of the family of Malatestae and not willing rashly either to reprove or accuse them he watch them so narrowly by his intelligencers and spies that he had certain and infallible testimony of their incestuous meetings for which setting aside all conjugall affection or paternall pity he caused them first to be cast in strict and close prison and after upon more mature deliberation to be arraigned where they were convicted and lost their heads with all the rest that had been conscious of the act Fulgos lib. 6. cap. 1. I will borrow leave to insert here one remarkable punishment done upon a Jew at Prague in Bohemia in the year 1530 who being then in adultery with a Christian woman they compelled him to stand in a ton pitched within they bored a hole in which they forced him to put in that part with which he had offended just by him was placed a knife without edge blunred for the purpose and there he stood loose save fastned by the part aforesaid fire being given he was forced through the torment of the heat with that edgelesse knife to cut away that pars virilis and ran away bleeding after whom they set fierce mâ—stiffs who worried him to death and after tore him in pieces Lycostin Theatro Human. vitae Of Adultery THe wife of Argento-Coxus Calidonius being taunted by Julia Augusta because it was the custome of their Country for the noble men and women promiscuously to mix themselves together and to make their appointments openly without blushing to her thus answered I much commend the custome of our Country above yours we Calidonians desire consociety with our equals in birth and quality to satisfie the necessary duties belonging to love and affections and that publiquely when your Roman Ladies professing outward temperance and chastity prostitute your selves privately to your base grooms and vassals The same is reported to have been spoken by a Bâ—itish woman Dion Nicaeus Xiphilin in vita Severi Her words were verified as in many others I could here produce so in the French Queen Fredigunda who though she infinitly flattered the King Chilpericus her husband outwardly yet she inwardly affected one Laudricus to whom she communicated her person and honor these in the Kiugs absence were scarce to be found asunder insomuch that Chilperick himselfe could not more freely command her person by his power then the other by his loose and intemperete effeminacies It hapned the King being on hunting and leaving the Chase before his hour stole suddenly upon his Queen and comming behind her as she was taking her Prospect into the Garden sportingly toucht her upon the head with the switch he had then in his hand without speaking she not dreaming of the Kings so sudden return and thinking it had been her private friend without looking back Well sweet-heart Landricus saith she you will never leave this fooling and turning towards him withall discovered the King who only biting his lip departed in silence She feaâ—â—ng the Kings distaste and consequently his revenge sends for Landricus and as if the King had been the offender betwixt them two conspired his death and within few daies effected it for seldome doth Adultery but go hand in hand with Murther From the Sin I come to the Punishment Among the Israelites it was punished with fines as may be collected from the history of Thamar who being with child by Judas he threatned her to the stake and had accordingly performed it had she not shewed by manifest tokens that he himselfe was the author of her unlawfull issue Gen. 38. The Aegyptians condemned the Adulterer so deprehended to a thousand scourges the Adulteresse to have her Nose cut off to the greater terror of the like delinquents Diodor. Sicul. lib. 2. cap. 2. Coel. lib. 21. cap. 25. By Solons Lawes a man was permitted to kill them both in the act that so found them Ravis In Judaea they were stoned to death Plat. lib. 9. de Legibus punisheth Adultery with death The Locrenses by tradition from Zaluces put out the Adulterers eies The Cumaei prostituted the Adulteresse to all men till she died by the same sin she had committed Alex. ab Alex. lib. 4. cap. 1. It was a custome amongst the ancient Germans for the husband to cut off his wives hair so apprehended to turn her out of doors naked and scourge her from Village to Village One bringing word to Diogenes That a fellow called Dydimones was taken in the act He is worthy then saith he to be hanged by his own name for Didymi in the Greek Tongue are Testiculi in English the Testicles or immodest parts By them therefore from whence he derived his name and by which he had offended he would have had him to suffer Laert. lib. 6. Hyeâ—tuâ— the Argive slew one Molurus with his wife apprehending them in their unlawfull congression Coelius Iulius Caesar repudiated his wife for no other reason but because P. Clodius was found in his house in Womans Apparell And being urged to proceed against her he absolutely denied it alledging That he had nothing whereof to accuse her but being further demanded Why then he abandoned her society he answered That it was behoofefull for the wife of Caesar not only to be clear from the sin it selfe but from the least suspition of crime Fulgos lib. 6. cap. 1. Augustus banished his own Daughter and Neece so accused into the Island called Pandateria after into Rhegium commanding at his death That their bodies being dead should not be brought neer unto his Sepulcher To omit many Nicolaus the first Pope of that name excommunicated King Lotharius brother to Lewis the second Emperor because he divorced his wife Therberga and in her room instated Gualdrada and made her Queen Besides he degraded Regnaldus Archbishop of Tâ—evers and Gunthramus Archbishop of Collen from their Episcopall dignitie for giving their approbation to that adulterate Marriage And so much for the punishment I will conclude with the counsel of Horace lib. 1. Satyr 2. Desine Matronas sectarier unde laboris Pluâ—haurire mali est quam ex re decerpere fructum est Cease Matrons to pursue for of such pain Thou to thy selfe more mischief reap'st then gain Sisters that have murdred their Brothers AFter the untimely death of Aydere his brother Ismael succeeded him in the Persian Empire who arriving at Caâ—bin was of his
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
present contract for if he refused her to wife she vowed never to have other husband acknowledging that all her fortunes next to the Divine Providence came by his goodnesse omitting the former circumstances and that shee knew no way better to expresse her gratitude then to confer them on him by whom they first came Thus the close proved better then the beginning and the banquet of Sweet-meats made amends for the harsh Feast for they found this last of all the other passages to be only serious They were there contracted the suitors witnesses and soon after married And thus his vertue and her conversion had one joint reward Cura ONe woman I had almost forgotten but better remember her at last then not at all and strange it is I should do so since she is still present with the King in his Thronâ— with the Generall in the Camp the Tradesman in his Shop and the Plowman in his Cottage she is with the Scholler in his Study and the Statesman in his Closet she is still at the elbow of every Father or Mother and no family can exist without her In this my work she hath risen early with me in the Morning and again sate up with me till past Midnight she will leave no man Waking nor forsake him till he his fast Sleeping This womans name is Care the grandmother of Fears and Doubts who passing a river and finding a vein of bituminous and clammy clay being full of thoughts she began to fashion a part thereof to the true semblance and shape of a man and deliberating with her selfe what she had done and being enamored with her late workmanship and casting how best to dispose it Joves Herald Mercury comming that way by accident saluted her whom she intreated to be an intercessor to Jupiter in her behalfe to give that picture life He at Mercuries entreaties did so There was then question made how to name it Cura would have it called after her own name Care but Jupiter would not agree to that but give it his next up start Tellus i. The Earth and pleaded the name belonged to her because from her it first proceeded The deciding of this controversie was put to Saturn who thus ended it You Jupiter shall take charge of it and after death receive the Spirit back that first gave it Care because she first fashioned it Care shall all the life time possesse it But because the difference is about the name Homo vocetur quia ex humo factus esse videtur i. Let it be called man because made of the Earth And therefore with great elegance Tibull 3. lib. 3. Eleg. 3. thus writes Nam grave quid prodest pondus mihi divitiâ— auri Arvaquae si findant pinguia mille â—oves c. What profit golden heaps weigh'd by the pound Or if a thousand Oxen plow my ground What profits me my house although it stand On Phrygian columns wrought by curious hand Digg'd first and fetcht from the Tenarian Mine Or else Caristus whether brought from thine Or woods beneath my roof planted for state Which seem the sacred groves to imitate My golden beams and â—loors with marble pav'd Or my Pearl-shining vessels so much crav'd From th' Erichthraean shores what all my pride In wooll that 's in Sydonian purple di'd Or what besides the vulgar sets on fire Who still most envy where they most admire These but the temporeall gifts of fortune are And 't is no pomp can fâ—ee my thoughts from Care Reward due to Philosophers Orators and Poets IN what honor all Philosophers have been of old with Princes and Emperors lies next in me to speak of as Agathe Pythagoricus with Arcesilaus King of Macedon Plato with Dionysius Aristotle with Philip and Alexander Xeno Citâ—eius the son of Mnasenus with the Athenians Theophrastus honored by Demetrius Psaleraeus with golden statutes Posidonius entired to Cneius Pompeius Magnus Ariston to Julius Caesar Zenarchas to Augustus Apollonius Tyanaeus to Bardosanes King of Babylon Dion Prusienis to the Emperor Trajanus Arrius to Alexander Heliodorus to Adrianus Sopater to Constantinus Magnus with infinte others of which it is not necessary now to insist Plutarch remembers us in the life of Alexander That he having taken ten of these Gymnosophists that were the cause of the falling off of the Sabbea a people of Arabia who had done many outrages to the Macedonians because they were esteemed Philosophers and famous for their ready and acute answers he therefore to those ten propounded ten severall questions with this condition that he who answered the worst of them should be first slain and so in order the rest and of this he made the eldest judges Of the first he demanded Whether in his judgement he thought there to be more men living or dead who answered Living because the dead are not The second Whether the Earth or the Sea harbored the greatest Monsters Resp The Earth because the Sea is but part thereof The third What beast of all creatures was the most craftie That which to man is best known The fourth Why did the Sabbae revolt from Macedon Resp That they might either Live well or Die ill The fifth Whether the day was before the night or the night before the day Resp The day for one day was before another The sixth What was the best way to make a man generally beloved of all Resp To be the best man and no tyrant The seventh How might a man be made a god Resp By doing that which a man is not able to doe The eighth Whether is Life or Death the stronger Resp Life because it beareth so many disasters The ninth he demanded How long he thought a man to live Who answered â—ust so long as he desired not to see Death When the King turning to the judge bad him give just sentence he said that one had answered more impertinently then another then saith the King thou art the first that oughtest to die for so judging But he replied Not so O King because it was your own condition that he should suffer first that made the worst answer This said the King dismissed them bounteously and roially rewarded If then for ambiguous answers to such slight and yet doubtfull questions Alexander thought them worthy of such gifts and presents with what Memories what Praises what Crowns Columns and Statues ought we to dignifie and celebrate the names of Queen of Zenobia Amalasuntha Aspatia Fulvia Morata and others This Solomon the wisest not only of Kings but of men well knew when having made proof of the wisedom of Nicaulis Queen of Aethiopia he sent her back into her Country so liberally furnished and so roially rewarded What I have spoke of these may be pertinently apply to our women studious in Divinity Oratory and Sophistry and laboriously practised in all other liberall Arts and Sciences Nor can I more fitly in my mind conclude this work then as I begun with goddesses so to end with good women
and abundance she being but of humble fortunes and descended from me in parentage It hapned this Aspasia was by a Persian souldier taken from her father as all their Cities in those daies were subject to the like oppressions and presented unto Cyrus the son of Darius and Parasatides but much against her own will or the liking of her father thus presented to him in the company of other to the most choice virgins she was commended above them all both for the modesty of her countenance the civility of her carriage and an irreprovable beauty without all stame or blemish and that which heightned the love of all men towards her she was of singular wisedome for which Cyrus afterward often admitted her into his counsels and so oft as he was swar'd by her advise his designs never failed their wished successe The first time she stood before the King was at supper time which ended and Cyrus after the Persian manner willing to take his cups somewhat lavishly in middest of their healthing there were presented before him â—ouâ— Grecian damosels with Aspâ—sia the Phocensian making up the number the other three being richly adorned whose friends had set their 〈◊〉 out in 〈◊〉 beautified their heads with jewels and polisht their face and bodies with sweet odouis and unguents besides they had instructions how to behave themselves towards the King how to insinuate into his favour not to mâ—ve back when he câ—me forward not make squemish of any curtesie he should 〈◊〉 but freely to recompence kisse for kisse being rolly instructed in the amoâ—orious precept belonging to such a businesse But on the contrary Aâ—pasia would not present here felte in any curious or gay vesture nor suffer any robe of â—â—uour or state to be put upon her neither would she wash or bath her selfe but in sadnesse and sorrow she invoked all the Graecian and Eâ—â—â—therian gods to her assistance shall calling upon her fathers name accounting those unusuall arguments and superâ—â—uous 〈◊〉 rather the marks 〈◊〉 servitude then honour 〈…〉 could she be forced to appear 〈◊〉 any 〈…〉 cast and unblemisht virgin 〈…〉 comming before Cyrus smiled using 〈…〉 gestures she only with her eies 〈…〉 in her cheeks by her tears expressed an extraordinary bashfulnesse The King commanding them to sit down in his presence the rest boldly contended who should place her selfe next him but this Phocean damosell at first seemed not to hear nor without the robustious usage of that souldier who first surprised her could be won to sit downe The King beginning to dallie with them and playing with their cheeks necks and brests the rest willingly suffered him she only struck his head aside and if he offered but to touch her in the least part she presently 〈…〉 and told him he should not do it unpunished The King much delighted with this unexpected 〈…〉 every offer of his she fled his embraces which was against the custome of the Persians he more ardently fixe his affection upon her and turning to the Souldiers who first presented them thus said This Phocean onely thou hast brought me chast and uncorrupted the rest both in beauty and behaviour are impostures and from thenceforth she was sollicited and beloved of the King above all others with whom he had before or after converst with and from that time a mutuall affection grew betwixt them so great that it increased as far as the modest and absolute confirmation of marriage conformable to the custome of the Graecians Insomuch that the love of the King to Aspasia was not rumoured in Ionia solely but through all the spacious Provinces of Greece even Peloponnesus was filled with the bruit thereof to the glory of the great King who after his familiar acquaintance with her was never known to have used the company of any other woman And now began the vision of Aspasia concerning the Dove to be much spoken of and of the goddesse that appeared to her to whom she dedicated after a goodly statue called the image of Venus beautified with many rich jewels withall the picture of a Dove to which she made daily supplications sacrifices and oblations still imploring the favour of the goddesse To her father Hermotimus she sent many rich and unvalued presents making him of a subject almost unparalleld for wealth using in the processe of her life as witnesse as well the Persian as Graecian Ladies a wonderous modesty and continence Hormus sometimes of Thessaly was sent from Scopa the junior who was of Sicily with an admirable rich jewell to Cyrus for a present Who having shewed it to many all wondering at the cost and workmanship and proud of so rich a gem presently after dinner repaired to the chamber of Aspasia and finding her asleep cast himselfe upon the bed by her without disturbing her rest who waking and espying the King so neer began to imbrace him according to her accustomed manner who presently taking the jewel from the casker shewed it to her using these words This I bestow on thee as a gift worthy the daughter or mother of an Emperor which I charge thee to wear for my sake in a carkanet about thy neck To whom she wisely and considerately answered And how dare I be the possessor of so great a treasure which rather becomes the majesty and estate of your mother Parasatides therefore I intreat you send it to her for I without this ornament can present you with a neck sufficiently beautiful The King much pleased with her answer daily and hourly more and more increased his love towards her and what she said and did sent in a letter to his mother with the jewell inclosed For which she was not only much graced and favoured by the Princesse but after by Cyrus rewarded with mony rich gifts of value inestimable all which she modestly sent back with this message These things O King may be usefull to thee that hast the charge of such infinites of men when my greatest riches is to be solely beloved of thee with these and the like she tied the King in inseparable bonds of affections towards her For without all competitorship in the beauty of face feature of body integrity of life and noblenesse of mind she was above all those of her time admirable But after Cyrus being slain in battell by his brother and his whole army overthrown she likewise fell into the hands of the enemy whom the King Artaxerxes with singular care and diligence caused to be sought and brought before him as one whose name and vertues he held in great respect and estimation and being presented before him bound he grew wondrous angry commanding all such to prison as were the authors of her least durance withall commanding a costly and magnificent robe to be cast about her which she with many tears and much sorrow refused till she was compell'd to it by the King still taking to heart and lamenting the death of Cyrus But thus adorned according to the Persian state she
appeared in the eies of all men the fairest of women especially in the Kings much surprised with her extraordinary beauty still perswading her to raze out the memory of Cyrus dead and in his room to admit of Artaxerxes living which slowly and at length though late he obtained respecting her above all other his wives and concubines Soon after his Eunuch Toridates died more then a child and scarce full man the most beautifull youth in Asia and of the King the most beloved who so much lamented his death that all the pricipalities and nations under him seemed to participate of his griefe yet none that durst be so bold as to come into his presence or minister to him any words of comfort Three daies being past in these lamentations and sorrowes Aspasia in a funerall habit and with her eies fixt upon the earth appeared before the King who no sooner espied her demanded the cause of her comming To comfort thee said she O King if thou beest so pleased else to return to the place of sorrow from whence I came At which seeming to rejoice the King intreated her to her chamber whither he would presently repaire to whom she obeied And having put on a robe of the Eunuchs so much bewailed and in that casting her selfe upon her bed she gave the King such content that he commanded her till the daies of mourning were past never to appear to him but in that habit she more prevailing with him then all his Princes wives subjects and servants about him stil living in his most especiall grace and favour And so far Aelianua The Matrons of Lacedemon in all battel 's sought against the common enemy as many of their husbands sons or allies as they found slain they used to search what wounds they had about them if the greater number were in the face or breast with great joy and solemnity they bore them to be intombed in the monuments of their ancestors but it on the contrary those on their backs exceeded the number of the former surprised with shame and sorrow they either left them to the common buriall or gave them such private interment as if they wisht their memories to have perisht with their bodies This history Aelianus in his twelfth book records This discourse for the rarenesse of it I hold not impertinent to insert amongst the women most illustrious Chares Mitylenus in his tenth book of Histories thus writes Zariadres the younger brother of Hystaspes both of them being so naturally beautifull that they were said to be the sons of Adonis and Venus The elder reigned in the lower parts of Media the junior kept his principality in the higher Countrie as farre as the river Tanais not many leagues distant from thence there lived the King Homartes who had one onely daughter called Odaâ—â—s whom as divers authors affirm seemed in a dream to have seen this Zariadres and of his person to be much enamoured The liek in a vision hapning to him insomuch that he was ardently affected to her whom as yet he had never seen This Odaâ—â—â— was the fairest Princesse in that time living in Asia and Zariadres no whit to her inferior who sent to the King Homartes to demand her in marriage he would by no 〈◊〉 yeeld to the motion because not having any â—ale issue he was â—oth to transfer the succession of 〈◊〉 Kingdome upon a stranger purposing rather to bestow her 〈…〉 Prince of his Countrie though a subject Not long 〈◊〉 caused to be assembled all the Friends 〈…〉 and Gentry of his land inviting them to his daughâ—â—â—s 〈◊〉 but not yet knowing or having 〈…〉 on whom to confer her His subject 〈◊〉 assembled he invited them all to a solemn and high Priest 〈…〉 having called his daughter in the hearing of all his gueste 〈…〉 bespake 〈◊〉 We are now â— Princeâ—ly daughter 〈…〉 thy nuptials take therefore this golden 〈…〉 with rich Greekish wine and having throughly and advisedly perused all this Noble 〈◊〉 to 〈…〉 shal◠〈…〉 to drink he is undoubtedly thy husband 〈◊〉 having viewed and reviewed them all and 〈…〉 like that person presented to her in her 〈…〉 some few daies respite which 〈…〉 word to Zariadres bow her affairs stood 〈…〉 her marriage and withall much 〈…〉 in his army neer 〈…〉 conceived himselfe 〈…〉 or auendâ—nt saving 〈…〉 into the City of 〈◊〉 having 〈…〉 this done 〈…〉 his Chariot and driver and withall 〈…〉 he came to the place where this marriage was to be celebrated and 〈◊〉 in amongst the rest he behold the beautifull 〈…〉 countenance and tempering her draught with all 〈◊〉 unwilling hand to whom approching more 〈◊〉 he thus whispered Behold Odatis thy 〈…〉 for whom didst lately send ready to do thee all service She casting an advised eie upon him and receiving him to be a stranger beautifull and in all semblance so like the person of whom she had dreamt in a great extasie of joy drank to him and gave him the cup and whilst â—â—â—rest were amazed at the novel he snatcht her up and carried her where his Chariot stood ready and so transported her into Media This their love was so famous amongst the barbarous people that the history was portraied in all their Palaces and Temples nay even in their private houses many of the Nobility in memory of her calling their daughters by the name of Odatis 〈◊〉 the Tyrant banisht Dâ—on out of Sicily taking into his own custodie the exiles wife Aristomache and her daughter but after at the great intercession of one of his servants Polycrates â— man by him much affected he compelled the Lady who still lamented the absence of her Lord 〈…〉 second marriage with this Polycrates who was by 〈…〉 But Dâ—on having gathered fresh forces and expelling Dionysius from Syracusa unto the Locrenses 〈◊〉 his sister meeting him and congratulating his famous victory made intercession for Aristomache who with great shame had kept her selfe from the presence of her first husband not daring to look him in the face howsoever her second nuptials were made by force and compulsion But the necessity of the cause the wondrous submission and modest excuse of Aristomache together with the mediation of Arete so much he prevailed with Dion all confirming her innocence that he received his wife and daughter into his family still continuing their former love and society Hippo a woman of Greece travelling by sea with her husband and being surprised by Pirats finding the chiefe of them to be enamoured of her beauty rather then yield to his lustfull desires she voluntarily threw her selfe into the sea and was drowned leaving behind her a remarkable president of chastity her body was driven upon Ericheon or as some will have it the Erythrean shore in memory of whom a sacred monument was raised which was many years after yearly celebrated with many condign honours Valer. Max. lib. 7. cap. 1. Chiomara of whom Livius Frontinus Florus and others have written was the
King is betwixt them slain over whose dead body she caused her Chariot to be drawn Her cheeks blushed not when the wheels of her Waggon were stained with her fathers blood And so much to give Tullia a short character the most insolent of Wives and the worst of Daughters Of a lower voice softer spirit and more temperate condition were these wives following Chilonia the wife of Cleombrotus King of Sparta and daughter of Leonides who had before soverainised when in those civil combustions the â—on in law had expulsed the father and compelled him into exile she never ceased to importune her hnsband till she had called him home from banishment But in processe of time when Fortune had turned her wheel and Leoâ—ides in those dissentions having got the better had confined Cleombrotus she was an hourly intercessor for the repeal of her husband but finding her father to be obdure and her 〈◊〉 by him not listned to though she might in all pleasure and â—ase have happily spent her age in her own City with her father she rather made choise to be a faithfuâ—l companion in all distresses with her husband Fulgos lib. 6. cap. 7. Anaxandrâ—des the son of Leontias married with his sisters daughter whom he exceedingly loved but because she was 〈◊〉 and that by her he had no issue the Ephori made suit unto him to be divorced from her and would have compelled him unto it but when he had absolutely denied to condescend with them in that point they made another request unto him That he would take unto him another wife more fruitfull lest the most fortunate issue of Euristaeus might in him be extingished He therefore at their intreaties took to him a second wife namely Perinetades the daughter of Demarmenus and so brought her home to his house where which is strange the two women lived together peaceably without emulation or envy His last wife brought him a son whom he called Cleomenes and not long after his first wife before barren made him the fortunate father of three sons the first Dorieus the second Leonides the third Cleombrotus but Cleomenes the eldest by the second wife succeeded in the sovereignty Herodot lib. 5. Thesca the sister of Dionysius being married to Polixenus who having entred into a conjuration with other noble Gentlemen to supplant the Tyrant but fearing discovery fled for his best safety Upon whose flight Dionysius cals his sister into question as one that must of necessity be privy to his escape To whom she boldly thus answered Thinkest thou O Dionysius thy sister to be a woman of that servile and degnerate condition that had she known the least purpose of his retirement she would not have made her selfe a companion in all his Navigations and Travel Erasm Apophtheg lib. 5. Caius Caligula the Emperor having found Herod the husband to Herodias Tetrarch of Galilee engaged in a revolt from the Empire with Artabanus King of the Parthians amerced him in a great sum of monie for that defect and till it was levied and paied into the Treasury gave him in custody to King Agrippa whom he had found loiall unto him and in whose fidelity he much trusted He after banished Herod into a Lyons a City of France with an irrevocable doom of exile imposed upon him but understanding Herodias to be sister to the wife of Agrippa whom he much favoured out of Herods mulct or sine he proportioned her a large Dower reserved in the hands of Agrippa to her use as not dreaming she would have been a companion with him in his confinement To which extraordinary grace from the Emperor she thus replied You O Emperor as best becomes your Majesty speak like a roiall and munificent Prince but the Conjugal Bond of Love and Piety in which I am tied to a husband is to me an impediment that I am not capable of this great Largesse and unmerited bounty Unmeet it is that I who have been a partaker with him in all his prosperous and flourishing fortunes should now forsake him and not be a companion with him in the worst that disaster or adversity can inflict This noble answer Caeligula took in such scorn and high displeasure to see himself in magnanimity and greatnesse of spirit to be exceeded by a woman that he banished her with her husband Herod and the bounty before bestowed on her he conferred upon her brother in law Agrippa Joseph in Antiq. Cleomenes the son of Anaxandrides and Perinetades but lately spoken of being expulsed from Sparta by Antigonus King of Macedonia fled for refuge to Ptolomeus King of Aegypt whither his wife would have followed him but disswaded by her parents notwithstanding a strict gard was set over her yet in the night she beguiled her keepers and having provided a horse for the purpose posted with all possible speed to the next Port Town that was least suspected where hiring a ship with all the Coin and Jewels then about her she sailed into Aegypt and there spent the remainder of her daies with him in his uncomfortable exile Fulgos lib. 6. cap. 7. I have but one more gentle Reader to trouble thy patience with at this present Blanca Rubea Patavina the wife of Baptista a Porta betaking her selfe into the same free priviledged Town of which Bassianus was then governor and whither her husband for his safety was retired in the year of our Redemption 1253. when Acciolinus the Tyrant having lost Padua when bending all his forces to the surprisall of Bassianus compassing that at length by fraud and stratagem which by opposition and violence he could never have accomplished in the entring of which Town Baptista was slain and Blanca Rubea being armed and fighting boldly by his side till she saw him fall was notwithstanding her masculine valour taken prisoner by a souldier and presented to the Tyrant who gazing on her rare feature much more beautified by the rich armor she then had on grew exceedingly enamoured on this manly Virago and first with fair enticing blandishments he courted her love but finding no possibility to satiate his libidinous affections that way where fair means failed he purposed force which to avoid and to prevent the dishonour intended her she cast her self out from an high Bay-window two-stories from the gronnd where being taken up half dead with much difficulty she was recovered No sooner was she wel able to walk but the Tyrant still prosecuted his beastly and bruitish desires which she still opposing with that small strength he had his left he caused his servants to bind her according to lustfull direction and not able to stir hand nor 〈◊〉 in that horrible manner ravished her At length being loosed from those hatefull and unsufferable bonds she with what patience she could dissembled her griefe and wrought so far with some that compassioned her miseries that she had liberty to visit her dead husband in his Tomb into which with loud shrieks and passionate lamentation she entred still invoking her