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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
they proposed unto us honest rules and examples among which this was one That every man should have inspection into his own and guide himselfe by that compasse I verily beleeve she is matchlesse above all other women and deservedly to merit that character you have given her but withall I beseech you that you will not perswade me to any thing which is not lawfull At these words the King seemed to be displeased and repli'd Be confident O Gygâ—s and neither distrust me in so perswading thee nor my wife who is altogether ignorant of what I intend since from neither of us any damage or detriment no not so much as the least displeasure can arise for first I have devised that she shall not know nor once suspect that thou hast beheld her for I will order it that thou shalt be secretly conveied into the chamber and unseen behold every passage of her making unready and comming to bed Now when thou hast freely surveied her in every part and lineament and spiest her back towards thee convey thy selfe out of the room only in this be carefull that at thy removing she cast no eie upon thee This done the next morning give me thy free and true censure Gyges that could by no means avoid his importunity was prepared against the time The King according to his accustomed hour conveys himselfe into his chambâ—â— and so to bed the Queen soon after entring â—â—poils her selfe of all her 〈◊〉 and ornaments even to her 〈◊〉 all which Gyges was spectator of who no soner spied her back 〈◊〉 to go towards bed but Gyges slips from the place where he was hid which was not so cuâ—â—ingly done â—ut he 〈◊〉 espied by the Queen she demanding the reason of it from her husband and ne certifying the truth but 〈◊〉 what modesty he could excusing it she neither seemed to be angry nor a â—rogether well pleased but in her silence meditated revenge for amongst the Lydians and almost all those barborous nations it is held great incivility and immodesty to behold a man much more a woman naked The next morning by such servants as she best trusted she caused Gyges to be sent for who misdoubting nothing that had past as one that had many times free accesse unto her instantly came she causing her servants to withdraw themselves thus bespake him Two waies are proposed thee O Gyges and one of them instantly and without least premeditation to make choise of Either thou must kill Candaules and that done be possessed of me and with me the Crown of Lydia or instantly die for thy doom is already determined of because thou shalt know that in all things it is not convenient to obey the King or search into that which thou oughtest not to know There is now a necessity that either he that counselled thee to this must perish or thou that obeiedst him against all Law or Justice to behold me against reason or modesty naked Gyges at these words was first wondrously amazed but after recollecting himselfe entreated her not to compell him to so hard an exigent as to the choice of either But finding that necessity that he must be forced to one or the other to kill the King or to be slain by others he rather made choice to survive and let the other perish and thus answered her Since generous Lady you urge me to an enterprize so much opposite to my milder nature and disposition propose some safe course how this may de done Even saith she in the selfe-same place where he devised this mischiefe against himselfe namely his bed-chamber where to thee I was first discovered Therefore providing all things necessary for so determinate a purpose and the night comming on Gyges who knew no evasion but to kill his master or die himselfe awaited his best advantage and having notice when Candaules was asleep followed the Queen into her chamber and with a Ponyard by her provided for the purpose stabbed him to the heart by which he attained both the Queen and Kingdome Of this history Archilochus Parius makes mention in his Iambicks who lived about the same time affirming that Gyges was by the Oracle of Delphos confirmed in the Kingdome after the faction of the Heraclides had opposed his soveraignty Rowan and Estrilda ROwan was a maid of wonderfull beauty and pleasantnesse daughter to Hengest a Captain of the Saxons Of this Lady Vortiger then King grew so enamoured that for her sake he was divorced from his wife by whom he had three sons for which deed the greatest part of the Brittains forsook him therefore he by the instigation of Rowan still caused more and more Saxons to be sent for under pretence to keep the Land in subjection But the Brittains considering the daily repair of the Saxons came to the King and told him the danger that might ensue entreating him whilst it was yet time and to prevent a future miserie to expell them the Land But all in vain for Vortiger was so besotted in the beauty of his fair wife by whose counsell he was altogether swaied that he would in no wife listen to the counsell of his subjects Wherefore they with one united consent deprived him of his Crown and dignity making Vortimerus his eldest son King in his stead Who was no sooner Crowned but with all expedition he raised an army and pursued the Saxons and in four main battels besides conflicts and skirmishes became victorious over them The Saxons and their insolencies thus supprest and the King now governing the Land in peace after he had reigned seven years was by this Rowan in revenge of the disgrace done to her King deposed and her Countrimen disgraced most trecherously poisoned Locrin the eldest son of Brute chased the Huns which invaded the realm of England and so hotly pursued theâ—â— that many of them with their King were drowned in a river which parteth England and Scotland and after the name of the King of the Huns who there perished the river is to this day called Humber This King Locrin had to wife Guendoline a daughter of Corineus Duke of Cornwall by whom he had a son called Madan He kept also a Paramour called the beautifull Lady Estrilda by whom he had a daughter called Sabrina Locrine after the death of Corineus of whom he stood in awe divorced himselfe from his lawfull wife and took to his embraces his fair concubine moved with this injury Guendoline retired her self into Cornwall where she gathered a great power fought with her husband slew him in battell and after caused him to be buried in Troy-novant That done she caused the fair Estrilda with her daughter Sabrina to be drowned in a river that which parts England and Wales which still bears the name of the young Virgin and is called Severn These her designs accomplished for so much as Madan her young son was but in his pupillage and not of capacity or age to govern the Land by 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
to Larissa in Thessaly he was hired for eight pieces of Gold to watch a dead body but one night for fear the Witches of which in that place there is abundance should gnaw and devour the flesh of the party deceased even to the very bones which is often found amongst them Also Murther by the Laws of God and man is punishable with death besides they that eat mans flesh or deliver it to be eaten are not worthy to live Cornel. lib de Sicariâ—s A twelfth is That they kill as oft by Poisons as by Powders and Magick Spels now the Law saith It is worse to kill by Witchcraft then with the Sword Lib. 1. de Maâ—â—sic A thirteenth is That they are the death of Cattell for which Augustanus the Magician suffred death 1569. A fourteenth That they blast the Corn and Grain and being barrennesse and scarcity when there is a hoped plenty and abundance A fifteenth That they have carnall corsociety with the Devill as it hath been approved by a thousand severall confessions Now all that have made any compect or covenant with the Devill if not of all these yet undoubtedly are guilty of many or at least some and there one coâ—sequently not worthy to live And so much for the Punishment 〈…〉 and other known malefactors I come now to the Rewards due to the Vertuous and first of 〈…〉 Ladies for divers excellencies worthy to be remembred Of Tirgatao Moeotis Comiola Tuâ—ingâ— and others TIrgatao a beautifull and vertuous Lady was joined in marriage to Hecataeus King of those Indians that inhabit â—eer unto the Bosphor which is an arm of the Sea that runneth betwixt two coasts This Hecataeus being cast out of his Kingdome Satyrus the most potent of these Kings reinstated him in his Principality but conditionally That he would marry his only daughter and make her Queen by putting Tirgatao to death But he though forced by the necessity of the time and present occasion yet loving his first wife still would not put her to death according to the Covenant but caused her to be shut in his most defenced Castle there to consume the remaindeâ— of her life in perpetuall widowhood The Lady comforted with better hopes and born to fairer fortunes deceived the eies of her strict keepâ—â—s and by night escaped out of prison This being made known to the two Kings the sonne in law and the father they were wonderfully perplexed with the newes of her flight as fearing if she arrived in her own Country she might accite the people to her revenge They therefore pursued her with all diligence and speed but in vain for hiding her selfe all the day time and travelling by night through pathlesse and unfrequented places at length she arrived amongst the â—xomatae which was the Countrey of her own friends and kindred But finding her father dead she married with him that succeeded in the Kingdome by which means now commanding the Ixomatae she insinuated into the breasts of the most warlike people inhabiting about Moeotis and so levied a brave army which she her selfe conducted She first invaded the Kingdome of Hecataeus and infested his Country with many bloody incursions she next wasted and made spoil of the Kingdome of Satyrus insomuch that they both were forced with all submisse entreaties by embassadors to sue unto her for peace to which she assented having before as hostage of their truce received Metrodorus the son of Satyrus But the two Kings falsified to her their faith and honour for Satyrus dealt with two of his subjects whom he best trusted with whom he pretended heinous displeasure for which flying and retiring themselves to her for refuge they there attend a convenient opportunity to insiderate her life They submitting to her her Court becomes their sanctuary Satyrus sends to demand the offenders she by her letters entreats and mediates their peace and pardon These attend their next occasion the one pretends private conference with her and bowing submissly to her as she enclines her body to attend him the other invades her with his sword her fortunate Belt kept the steel from entring Clamor is made her servants enter the Traitors are apprehended and confesse all that before had passed betwixt Satyrus and them Therefore she commands his son Metrodorus the Hostage to be slain and the two conspirators with him gathers another army and invades the Bosâ—â—â—ean Tyrant She punisheth his perfidiousnesse with Rapes Murthers Combustions and all the Calamities of war till Satyrus himselfe oppressed with miseries and surcharged with griefe expired whom Gorgippus his son succeeded in the Principality but not with any security till he had acknowledged his Crown as given to him by her and with many costly and rich gifts compounded for his peace Polyb. lib 8. This Lady hath a merited name for an invincible courage and a masculine spirit No lesse worthy to be remembred is Comiola Turinga her history is thus reported In that great Navy which Peter King of Sicily sent against Robert King of Naples in the aid of the Lyparitans with other Pâ—inces 〈◊〉 Nâ—â—lemen there was in that fleet one Roland bâ—stard brother to King Peter The Sicilians being defeated by 〈…〉 Roland amongst many other Gentlemen was surpâ—â—â—ed and cast into prison Now when the friends and kinsmen of all such Captives had been carefull of their release and almost all of them were ransomed thence King Peter 〈◊〉 the sloth and cowardise of his subjects the Sicilians neglected his brother and would entertein no discourse that tended to his redemption Whereupon he was put into a more close prison no better then a Dungeon where he was debarred the benefit of light and shortned of his diet where he spent his time in discontent and misery This extremity of his with the Dukes slackneâ—â— in his release comming to the ear of a beautiful young widow of Messana who had a large Dower from her parents and was left infinitely rich by her husband she pitying his distressed estate and withall being somewhat enamored of his person sent to him privately by such as he best trusted to know of him if he would accept of her as his wife if she did instantly pay down his ransome The motion being made he seemed overjoied thanked the heavens for their assistance and with great willingnesse accepted of the motion They are contracted by Proxie and she paies down two thousand ounces of gold for his freedome This done and Roland comming back to Messana he was so far from acknowledging the Contract that he would not so much as see her or confesse himselfe obliged unto her in the smallest courtesie who had it not been for her charitable love and piety might have languished in an uncomfortable durance all the daies of his life Comiola Turninga at this ingratitude much grieved for she had not only paid down so great a sum but that which most afflicted her was that the fame of her marriage being â—ll over-spread the Contract being denied and by
113 Sybilla Cumaea and her Prophesies 114 Sybilla Samia and her Prophecies 116 Sybilla Cumana and her Prophesies 118 Sybilla Hellespontiaca and her Prophecies 121 Sybilla Phrygia and her Prophesies 122 Sybilla Europaea and her Prophecies 124 Sybilla Tiburtina and her Prophesies ib. Sybilla Aegyptia and her Prophesies 126 Sybilla Erithraea and her Prophecies 127 A discourse of the Virgin Vestals 128 Of Oppia Claudia Fonteia Martia c. 131 Of the Prophetesses 134 The History of a great Magician 136 Of the Hesperides 141 The Pleiades or Hyades and why of the seven Stars but six appear at once 143 Of the Graces 145 Of the Hours 148 Of Aurora or the Morning 149 Of the Night 153 Of Sleep 155 Of Death 159 The Contents of the third Book inscribed Thalia Treating of Illustrious Queens famous Wives Mothers Daughters c. A Discourse concerning Illustrious Women 161 How kissing first came up ibid. Of three Gentlemen and their wives 166 Of Illustrious Queens 167 A Funerall Ode upon the death of Anna Panareta 169 Of divers Ladies famous for their Modesty 171 The wife of Fulvius 174 Of Aretaphila 176 Of Pieria Aspasia c. 178 The memorable History of Odatis 184 Of Aristomache Hyppo and Chiomara c. 185 Of Tertia Aemilia Turia Sulpitia Julia and Portia 187 Of Horestilla Artimesia and Hormisda 188 Of Queen Ada and Zenocrita 190 Of the wise of Pythes 192 Of the wise of Nausimenes 192 Of Ciano Medullina and Erixo ib. A Woman of the City Pergamus 195 Of Stratonica Valeria and Cloelia 196 Of Olympias and the Troades ib. Of the Phocides and women of Chios 200 Of the Persides Celtae Melitae and Tyrrhaenae 202 Examples of Modesty and Magnanimity 204 Of Dido Caesara Gumilda and Ethelburga 209 Of Policrita 213 Of Queens and other Ladies for divers Vertues memorable 214 Of women remarkable for their love to their husbands 220 The Contents of the fourth book inscribed Melpoment of Women incestuous Adulteresses and such as have come by strange deaths A Discourse perswading to good life 225 Of Women incestuous and first of Queen Sâ—miramis 228 Of Tagenna a woman of seventy Cubits high 231 Of Pasiphae 232 Of Canace Canusia and Valeria Tusculana 233 Of Iulia the Empresse 234 The sisters of Cambyses 235 Of Livia Horestilla Lollia Paulina Cesonia c. 237 Of Iocasta 238 Of Crythaeis the mother of Homer 240 An Epitaph upon Homer Prince of Poets 242 A strange Incest 244 Of Cyborea mother to Iudas Iscariot 245 Of Veronica 247 A discourse concerning Adulteresses 248 Of many great Ladies branded with Adultery amongst the Romans 251 A Country fellow and his mistresse 252 The water of a chast woman excellent for the eie-sight 254 Of Laâ—dice an unnaturall wife 255 The birth of Antoninus Commodus 256 Of Phedima and a notable Imposter ibid. Of Beguâ— Queen of Persia 259 Of Queen Olympias and the birth of Alexander 261 The death of Olympias 264 Of Romilda with â—are examples of Chastity ib. Of Ethethurga with her Epitaph 266 A merry accident concerning an Adulteresse 267 A true modern History of an Adulteresse 268 The wife of Gengulphus and divers others 274 The history of Elphritha 276 Of Guâ—â—â—ra with other intermixture of History 280 Of Women that have come by strange deaths 283 Women that died golden deaths ibid. Women that died in Child birth 285 Women that suffered Martyrdome 286 The strange death of Aristoclaea Democrita c. 289 The Hostlers Tale. 292 The Contents of the fifth Book inscribed Terpsichore Entreating of Amazons and other women famous either for Valor or Beauty A Discourse whether Valor or Beauty may claim priority 302 Of the Amazons their originall c. 310 Of other warlike women and those of masculine vertue 316 Examples of Fear ibid. Of Helerna Camilla Maria Puteolana and others ibid. The race of Hyppomanes and Atlanta 322 Of other warlike Ladies 323 A description of the Messagers 325 Of Zantippe and Mirho 327 Of a Sheep and a Shrow 329 A trick of an English scold c. 330 Of English Virago's and of Ioan de Pucil 330 A discourse of Fair women 337 Of Fair women ib. The fair Mistresse of Pisistratus 349 Of Niâ—â—tis 350 Of Bersane 352 Of the wife of Candaules ibid Rowan and Estrilda 355 The fair Lady of Norwich 356 Of Calirrhoe daughter to Boetius 361 Of the wives of Cabbas and Phaillus c. 362 The daughters of Danaus and the sons of Aegyptus 365 Of Manto 366 The wife of Agetus c. 36â— A Vicars daughter 369 A fair witty wench 376 Of women deformed 371 The Contents of the sixt Book inscribed Erato Treating of Chast women and Wantons A Discourse concerning Chastity and wantonness 375 Of Mary the blessed Virgin 380 Of Petronilla the daughter of St. Peter and other chast Virgins 383 Of chast wives and first of Penelope 388 The History of a woman of Casa Nova 393 Of Edeltrudis Editha and others 355 Of wantons 398 Of common Strumpets Concubines and private Mistresses 402 Of such as merited the name of Honest Whores 403 Of Lais. 405 Of Glicerium alias Glicera and others 411 Of Agathoclea 413 Of Cleophis 415 Callipigae Alogunes Cosmartidenes Audia c. 416 Iulia the daughter of Augustus Caesar 418 Harlotta the mother of William the Conqueror 421 Of divers Wantons belonging to sundry famous men Poets and others 422 Of famous Wantons 426 Of Mista and others 427 Of Wantons converted 432 The Contents of the seventh Book inscribed Polihymnia or Memory Entreating of the Piety of Daughters Mothers Sisters and Wives A Discourse concerning Lies Jeasts witty Sayings 439 Of Pious Daughters 447 The love of Mothers to their children 451 Friendship betwixt women 453 The love of Sisters towards their Brothers 456 Of Matrimony and Conjugall love 458 Ceremonies before Marriage 461 Times forbidden in marraige 461 Of Contracts 462 Of Nuptiall Dowers 463 Of Nuptial Gifts or Presents ibid. Of Nuptial Ornaments Pomp Feasts and Epithalamions c. 465 A description of the bride comming from her chamber 467 The bridegroome first appearing 468 The Nuptiall Oâ—â—ering ibid. The Nuptiall Song 469 The entranâ—ce into their Bedchamber ibid. 〈◊〉 Anguries and Nuptiall Expiations 472 〈…〉 of Women to their Hubands 475 Of Bawds 480 Of Age. 483 Of women addicted to Gluttony or Drunkennesse 484 Of women beloved of divers creatures 488 Of women excellent in Painting Weaving c. ibid. Of women contentious and bloody 494 Of women strangely preserved from death and such as have unwillingly been the deaths of their Parents 501 Of Clamorous women commonly called scolds 504 Of Tullia and her sister ibid. Examples of Patience in women 506 Variety of discourse concerning women 510 The daughters of Apollo ibid. The Syrens ibid. Women that have dissembled their shape to good purposes or to bad 511 Women that have changed their Sex 512 The Contents of the eight Book inscribed Urania Entreating of Women every way Learned Of Poetesses and Witches A Discourse of Astrology
causes devised but by the superstition of the people of ancient daies who left nothing unmeditated that might stirre up men to the adoration of the divine powers since in every thing they demonstrated a deity If they were spoken as truths I rather beleeve them to be the meer illusions of devils and spirits themselves then the genii of plants and trees that made such apparitions Of the Goddesses Infernall IT lies with much convenience in our way to make discourse of Pluto the third brother of Satuâ—n of the river Acheron and the properties thereof Of Styx a flood terrible to the gods themselves and by which they use to swear of Cocytus of Charon of Cerberus of the three infernall judges Minos Aeacus and Rhadamant of Tartarus with divers others out of all which many excellent fables pleasant to read and profitable to make both morall and divine use of might be collected but I skip them of purpose since I am injoined to it by promise for but women only I have now to deal with It therefore thus followes Of the Parcae OF Proserpina we have treated already amongst the supernall goddesses above and therefore must necessarily spare her here amongst these below The Paâ—cae or fatall goddesses are three Cloâ—ho Lachesis and Atropos Ceselius Vindex he gives them three other names Nona Decima and Morta and cites this verse of Livius a most ancient Poet Quaendo dies venit quam praefata Morta est When the day commeth that Morta hath presaged Some cals them the daughters of Demorgorgon others as Cicero of Herbus and Noz Hell and Night by another name they are called Fata the Fates as Seneca Multa ad Fata venere suum dum fata timeant As much as to say Many come to their death whilst they feare it They are said moreover to measure the life of man with a spindle and thread which they spin from their distaffe from which they are called Lanificae by the Poets Lanificas nulli tres exorare puellas Contigit observant quem statuere diem The three wool-weaving sisters none can pray To change their time they fix a constant day They are said to be inexorable and by no praiers or intreaties be moved to alter the limit of the fixed time or prorogue the life of man one minute after the date be expired which was proposed at our births therefore Seneca Nulli susso cessare licet Nulli scriptum proferre diem The Poets thus distinguish their offices one begins the life of man and plucks the towe from the distaffe the second makes the thread and continues it the third cuts it off and so ends it The first is Clotho whom Satius cals Ferrea or hard hearted Seneca Grandaeva or extreamly aged Pontanus Improba and Sedula obstinate and yet carefull and diligent The second Lachesis called by Ovid Dura hard by Martiali Invida envious by Claudian Ferrea obdure and rude The third Atropos of whom Statius Hos ferrea neverat annos Atropos Some number Illithia amongst the Parcae Plutarch speaking of the face that is visible within the Orb of the Moon saith some are of opinion that the soules of men are resolved into the Moon as their bodies into the Earth Aliquanto post tempore eas quoque animas in se recepit Luna at quae composuit 1. After some time the Moon receives into her selfe those souls which she had before framed restoring their mindes before lost for they are all in a dream like the soule of Endimion and by coadjuting with the Seminary and vitall powers of the Sun makes them as new soules The Tetra that is the number of Foure supplying the body for she gives nothing after death who receives towards generation The Sun takes nothing from but receives again the mind which he gives the Moon both receives and gives and composeth or makes and divides when she makes she is called Lucina when she divides Diana So of the 〈◊〉 Parcae Atropos is placed about the Sun as the beginning of this new birth Clotho is carried about the Sun to collect and mingle Lachesis the last her office is upon the Earth but these are riddles rather to trouble the brain than profit the understanding Parcae the mother of these three sisters is said to be the daughter of Necessity doubtlesse the Ethick writers held these to be most powerfull goddesses because all things born or that had subsistence were thought to be under their jurisdiction and power and therefore they were imagined by some to be the daughters of Jupiter and Themis because as the Pythagoreans taught Jove gave to every one a body and form suitable to the merits or misdeeds of their former life or else because the divine Wisdome allotted to every soule rewards or punishments as their good deeds or bad deserved the cause of which division the ancient Writers not truly understanding appropriated all to â—ate and the Parcae Furiae or the Eumemides THose whom the Poets call Furiae Virgil terms the daughters of Night and Acheron Therefore Galtreus in his twelfth book de Alexand. cals them by a sit Epithite Noctiginae Ego si dea sum qua nulla potentior inter Noctigenus si me vestram bene nostis alumnam If I a goddesse be of whom Amongst the night born none More potent is it 's well you knew Me for your nurse alone By the same law Mantuan cals them Achecontiginae as born of Acheron they are called by Lucan amongst the infernals Canes dogs Stygiasque Canes in luce superna Destiluana In the upper light I will forsake the Stygian dogs meaning the sisters Amongst mortals they are called Furiae because they stir up and spur on rage and malice in the hearts of men They are called also Eumenides by an Antiphrasis in a contrary sence for Eumenis signifieth Bene volens or well wishing therefore Ovid Eumenides tenuere faces de funere raptas Their temples and foreheads instead of hair are said to crawle with snakes and serpents as witnesseth Catullus Statius Mantuanus in Apollon and others By Virgil they are called Dirae Vltricesque sedent in Limine dirae Lactantius in his sixt book de Vero Cultu writes after this manner There be three affections or passions which precipitate into all violent and facinerous actions therefore Poets call them Furies Ire which covets revenge Covetousnesse which desires riches and Lust whose itching appetite is after all unlawfull pleasure The first of these Furies called Alecto discovered by Virgil where he terms her Luctifica as making strife and contention The second is Tesiphone or Tisiphone the daughter of Acheron whom Ovid thus delineates Nec mora Tesiphone madefactam sanguine sumit Importuna facem stuidoque cruore madentem Induitur pallam tortoque incingitur angue Egreditur que domo luctus comitatur euntem Et pavor terror trepidoque insania vultu Importunate Tesiphone without delay makes speed And snatcheth up a smoaking brand which burning seems to bleed A
pickt up the grains and made bare these five letters THEOD by which was signified Theodosius who after succeeded Other predictions were gathered out of the sentences of the Poets but especially out of Homer of the Greeks and Virgil for the Latines Socrates being in prison out of a verse in Homer told to Aeschinus That he should not outlive the third day Alexander Severus thus meaning to calculate what should futurely betide him hapned upon this verse in Virgil Tu regere imperio populos Romane memento And after some few years he attained to the Empire Claudius the Emperor acquiring his own fate the like way hapned upon that in his sixt book of his Aeneid Tertia dum Latio regnantem viderit Aestas Neither did he reign above two years The same Claudius inquiring after his brothers fortunes he light upon that verse which after Gordianus Junior chanced upon Ostendunt terris hunc tantum fata This Gordianus was slain within seventeen daies after he had taken upon him the emperiall purple Claudius Secundus predecessor to the Emperor Aurelian inquiring of the successe of his posterity had the lot of this verse in Virgil His ego nic metas rerum nec nomina pono Whose progeny lasted for a long time after Of this kind there were infinite which I purposely pretermit The â—iâ—hian woman that sate stradling with her legs upon the Tripos received the unclean spirit at the immedest parts of her body from whence she was likewise heard to deliver such answers as were demanded of her with a strange fury and rapture her hair scattered about her ears and foaming at the mouth she delivered her frantick oracles Methodius against Origen writ a book of these mad diviners as Sophranius saith Others there were call'd Ventriloquae so nam'd by S. Augustin because they were heard to speak from their wombs and bellies Tertul. a great author affirms that he hath seen such women that from their immodest parts sitting have uttered such kind of oracles answering in that manner to questions demanded To conclude with these Caelius â—odovicus that lived in the memory of our fathers in his eight book Antiquit. hath left recorded that he hath seen such a woman in Rhodigium a City of Italy from whose secret parts such a voice was often heard which though small and weak yet was altogether intelligible that which she uttered was strange to the hearers but in future things her words were full of vanity and leasings To speak of Fortune-tellers Gypsies Wisewomen and such as pretend to tell of things lost a profession too much suffered as most frequently abusive in this age would but fil much paper and give small or no content at all to the Reader I will therefore shut up all their impostorous lies in one short and known truth A cunning woman that not long since lived about this City whom I forbeare for some reasons to name pretended great skill not only in Palmestry to tell maids how many husbands they should have and young men what wives and how many children legitimate or bastards with such like ridiculous and illusive conjectures but besides this Art she professed the knowledge of things lost and to return any stolne goods to the true owner growing by this so popular that she grew not only in fame but in wealth and of great opinion amongst the vulgar It hapned that in a certaine house a silver spoon being lost and some of the family above the rest suspected about the felony two of the servants knowing themselves innocent to cleer themselves and find out the private thief made a stock betwixt them of ten groats for that was her fee and very early in the morning repaired to this cunning womans house because they would be sure both to take her within and find her at leasure They hapned to come just at the time when she her selfe opening the street door the first thing she cast her eie upon was that some beastly fellow or other had egregiously plaied the sloven just before the threshold of her door at which being exceedingly moved she in her anger thus said Did I but know or could I find out what rascall hath done this I would be revenged on him though it cost me twenty nobles One of the serving men somewhat wiser then his fellow hearing this pluckt him by the elbow and thus whispers to him Thou hearest her talk of twenty nobles but by my consent we will even back again and save our ten groats The other demanding the reason Marry saith he she that cannot tell who hath done that abuse at her door I will never beleeve that she can tell us the party that hath stolne the spoon I would wish that all would take caution from this servant The Hesperides THey were the daughters of Hesperus the brother of Atlas or as some think of Atlas himselfe of which number is Eubulus Chaerecrates derives them from Phorcus and Cetus Their names were Aegle Arethusa and Hesperthusa These kept certaine pleasant and delectable gardens not far from Lyxus a Town in Mauritania in the farthest part of Aethiopia towards the West where all the Country was scorched with the heat of the Sunne and the place almost inhabitable for the multitude of serpents These Gardens were not far distant from Meroe and the red sea where lived the Serpent that kept the golden Apples whom Hercules after slew The keeper of this Dragon was called Ladon the son of Typhon and Echidna whom Apollonius takes to be the Dragon himselfe these Virgins inhabited the remotest parts of the Earth the same where Atlas is said to support the Heavens as Dionysius signifies to us in his book de Situ orbis Sustinet hic Atlas Caelum sic fata jubebunt Vltimus Hesperidum locus est in margine terrae Hic Capite manibus fert vasti pondera mundi Here Atlas doth support the Heaven for so The fates command th' Hesperid's give it name In the Earths utmost margent he we know Bears with his head and hands the worlds vast frame The fame is the mountain Atlas hath round incompast or hedged in this Oâ—chard or Garden because Themis had prophesied to him That in processe of time the son of Jupiter should break through his pale and beare away his golden Apples which after proved true in Hercules These Apples Agretus in rebus Libycis explaineth them to be sheep and because kept by a rude and churlish sheepherd were said to be guarded by a Dragon But Pherecides where he commemorates the Nuptials of Juno affirms that the earth next to the sea in the furthest West brings Apples of the colour of Gold whose opinion Lucan followes With three of these Apples was Atlanta the daughter of Scoeneus vanquisht which Venus gave to Hippomines when she was proposed the reward to the victor and death to him that was overcome but more plainly to reduce these fables to history It is probable that there
were two brothers famous and renowned in these Provinces Hespereus and Atlas that were possest of sheep beautifull and fair whose fleeces were yellow and of the colour of gold Hesperus having a daughter called Hesperia conferr'd her on his brother Atlas of this Hesperia the region was called Hesperitis By her Atlas had six daughters and therefore they had a double denomination from him Atlantides from her Hesperides Their beauties being rumour'd far off it came to the ears of Busiris who desirous of so rich a prey sent certain pirats and robbers with a strict command by some stratagem or else by force to steal them thence and so to transport them within the compasse of his dominions These Damosels sporting themselves in the garden were by these spies and outliers surprised and borne thence which hapned just about the time that Hercules combatted Antaeus these Virgins being shipt away the pirats went on shore to repose themselves with their prey upon the beach of which Hercules having notice who had heard before of the rape he sallied upon them and slew them all to one man returning the Virgins safe to their father for which he received not only a present of those sheep the reward of so great a benefit but many other courtesies amongst other things he instructed him in Astronomy and to distinguish of the stars which knowledge Hercules first bringing into Greece he was therefore said to ease Atlas and in his stead to support heaven upon his shoulders So the Hesperides are called the daughters of Hesperus which signifies the evening And they are said to have gardens in the Occident which bringeth froth golden Apples by reason the colour of the stars are like gold and their orbs round as apples neither rise they but in the west because instantly after the setting of the Sun the Stars appear which by reason of his splendour are concealed and obscured all the day time the Dragon some think it to be the Sign-bearing Circle ther 's a river that by many windings and serpent-like indents incompast the Orchard And so much for the explanation of the Hesperides Pleiades or Hyades OVid in his first book de Fastis leaves remembred how Atlas took to wife Pleione the daughter of Oceanus and Thetis by whom he received seven daughters these when Orion with their mother had for the space of five yeares together prosecuted only to vitiate and deflower them they all jointly petitioned to the gods That they might be rescued from all violence whose praiers Jupiter hearing and withall commiserating their distresse he changed the seven sisters into seven stars whose names Aratnâ— in Astronomicis thus recites Septem illae esse feruntur Quamvis sint oculis hominam sex obvia signa Alcinoe Meropeque Electraque diva Celaeno Taigete Sterope praeclaro Lumine Maia Seven stars th' are held to be Though we with our weak eies but six can see Celaeno Electra Alcyone Merope Clere-sighted Maia Taygete Sterope All these stars are plac'd in the head of the Bull two in his ears two in his eies two in his nostrils and one in the middle of his forehead where the haire curls and turns up Some reckoned the daughters of Atlas to the number of twelve and that Hyas was their brother who being stung to death by a serpent five of his sisters took his death so grievously that they died with sorrow of whom Jupiter took such pity that he translated them into so many stars which still beare their brothers name and are called Hyades Hesiod thus gives us their names Phoeola Coronis Cleia Phoeo and Eudora Quas nymphas Hyades mortales nomine dicunt Others nominate them after this manner Ambrocia Coronis Eudora Dione Aesila and Polyxo Others have added to thâ—â—â— Thicâ— and Proitele which they have beleeved to be Nâ—â—ses of Bacchus as also Dodoninas so called of Dodonus the son of Europa but write them as descended from other parents whence some held them for the daughters of Erecheus others of Cadmus some would have Calypso to be the daughter of Atlas Neither is their number free from controversie for Thales Milesius holds them but two the one Australis the other Borealis Euripides in his Tragedy de Phactonte adds a third Achaeus makes them foure and Euripides six some think them called Hyades because they were the Nurses of Bacchus who is also called Hyes of which opinion Euphorion is Hyae cornuto Dionysio Iratae Others think them to have took name of the Raine because their rising still portends shewers in the spring Besides these are the most certaine signes of weather which the Navigators at sea gather from the rising of these stars as Euripides in Ione most perspicuously demonstrates These Pleiades and Hyades are therefore called the daughters of Atlas because Atlas signifies Axis mundi i. the axeltree of the world The Columns of Atlas are the North and the Meridian or South poles on which the heaven is thought to be supported Now the axeltree first made the stars were next created some think them the issue of Atlas Libicus who being a most skilfull Astronomer called his daughters by the names of the stars thereby to eternise their memory as divers others have done the like Amongst whom was Conon who liv'd in the time of Pâ—olomaeus who called his Coma and Berenices Proclus in his Comment upon Hesiodus his works and daies writes that these Pleiades are all divine and their stars the souls of the Planets as Ceraeno is the soule of Saturn Sterope of the sphear of Jupiter Merope of Mars Electra of Apollo or the Sun Alcione of Venus Maia of Mercury and Taigete of the Moon Of whom some have had congresse with their own Planets and some with other of the gods Which Ovid in his fourth book Fastor hath with much elegancy related Pleiades Incipiunt humeros relevare paternos The wandring Pleiades gadding abroad Begin to ease their father of his Load Who though in number Seven all shining bright Yet only six of them appear in sight Twice three of these themselves have prostrate cast Into the gods imbraces Mars clings fast To Sâ—erope Alcione the faire And sweet Celaeno Neptunes darlings are Maia Electra and Taigete three Of that bright sister-hood Joves wantons be But Merope the seventh of mind more base Stoop'd lower to a mortall mans imbrace The thought of which fact she doth so detest She since nere shew'd her face amongst the rest And so much for the Pleiades and Hyades shall suffice Of the Graces THese whom the Latines call Gratiae or Graces the Greeks call Charites Hesiod cals them the daughters of Jupiter and Eurinome these called Oceanus father Orpheus in an hymn sung to the praise of these sisters cals them the daughters of Eunomea and Jupiter Antilemachus derives them from Aegles and the Sun others from Antinoe and Jupiter as they differ in their birth so they do in their names and number some allow but two and name them Clita
when th' one is fail'd And the other not yet perfect duls the sight No wakefull dog or clamorous cock hath rail'd Vpon the drowâ—ie Morn early to dight The Suns steeds Here the bird that sav'd of old Romes Capitâ—l is never heard to scold The brawling Crane nor yet the pâ—ating Crowe Or tatling Parret to dâ—sturb the eaâ—â— No bellowing Bull swift Hartâ—or Asse more slow Is heard to bray we have all silence here Only a murmuring river which doth flow From Lethe with his streams mongst pebbles cleer Luls the dull sense to soft and feathered rest Charming the cares and sorrowes in the brest Before the gate the drowsie Poppy springs With thousand plants and simples without number Not one but to the brain a numnessi brings Inviting all the powers of man to slâ—mber Whose milkie juice the Night on her black wings Beares t'wart the earth and scatters Who dares cumber This universall whistnesse where none come But taciturnity and silence dumbe Vpon the door no ratling hammers stroke Is heard without to startle those withn No creeking â—hinge by which oft sleep is broke Than to speak loud there 's held no greater sin Midst a vast room a bed hew'd out of Oke That had of late some ancient relâ—que been Fring'd with thâ—â—kâ—â—st and lasie â—obwebs stands Not in an age 〈…〉 with carefull hands Vpon this easie couch with 〈◊〉 hung Of duskie coloured silk you may behold The god of slâ—ep in carelesse fashion flung Stretching his drowsie limbs whom nâ—ne 〈◊〉 so bold To â—og or 〈◊〉 where snortings are heard sung Th' are pincht to softer breath Some dream of gold Of trâ—stes some his Court here Morpheus keeps Which no man sooner enters then he sleeps And this description begins to make me drowsie already But lest speaking too much of sleep I may be taxed and so taken napping my selfe I leave the brother fast sleeping to find out the sister who to the worlds end shall ever be waking Death is said to be educated by her mother Night Pausanias puts us in mind that in a Temple amongst the Eleans there was a woman poâ—tâ—aied leading two sleepy children that in her right hand White that in her left hand Black both with 〈◊〉 legs and mishapen feet the inscription upon the one Sleep upon the other Death the woman that cherâ—sht them Night This death of all the powers that are is most impartiall and implacable and because by no praiers nor intercessions she is to be moved therefore there are no Altars nor Temples nor sacrifices celebrated to her honour her impartiality and implacability Orpheus hath signified in one of his hymns Nec prece muneribus nec tu placabilis ullis She is attired in a sable garment spotted with stars The wise men of the former ages extold her with miraculous praises calling her the portand only secure harbor of rest she frees the body from a thousand pains and diseases delivers the subject from the cruelty of the tyrant and makes the begger equall with his Prince She to all good men is acceptable and welcome only dreadfull to the wicked who have a presage and feare of punishments to come Alcidamus writ an excellent book in the praise of Death having a large and copious argument in which he strove to expresse with what an equall sufferance and modest patience she was to be enterteined Of the same argument writes Plutarch in Consolator for life is nothing else but a light lenâ— us by the Creator of all mankind which if it be redemanded of us ought no more grudgingly to be paid back then comming to a friends house to be merry in the morning and having feasted there all the day to return to our home at night or to pay back what we borrow to the owner For there is no injury done to us if God demand that back at our hands which he hath before but lent us Now from the daughter to come back to the mother and know what is allegorically meant by Night These pests and mischiefes before commemorated are therefore said to be her sons and daughters because the ignorance and malice of man which is indeed the night of the mind is the parent and nurse of all calamities incidents to us yet may some of their violences by wisedome be mitigated though not frustrated of their ends namely Age Love Fate Death and the like who though they be in perpetuall motion their speed may be slackned though not staied and their pace slowed though not quire stopt She was called the most Ancient because before the Heavens and the Sunne were created there was no light extâ—nt which is said to proceed from the lower parts of the earth in regard that the Sunne compassing the world when he lights the Antipodes with his beams the earth shadowes them from us which shadow is nothing else then Night She is called the mother of all as being before the birth of any thing The word Nox is derived à Nocendo of hurting or harming the reason is as some Physitians hold opinion because the corrupt humors of the night are infectious and dangerous especially to men any way diseased of which there is continuall experience in all such as have either wounds or aches or agues or feavers or the like to all such weaknesses or imperfections the humours of the night are still most hurtfull and obnoxious And so much briefly what morally can be gathered by that which hath been fabulously commented of Night That Sleep could not fasten on the eies of Jupiter it is intended not to be convenient for him that hath the charge and protection of the whole Universe to whose care and foresight the administration and guidance of all things are committed should so much as slumber or wink at all neither doth the divine Nature need any rest to repaire and comfort his troubled spirits when he is not capable of either labour or discommodity And Lethe is called the sister of Somnuâ— in regard that by our naturall repose we for the time forget all paine anguish or trouble Because he comes to many creatures and at the same time he is said to be winged in regard the humour of the Night encreaseth the vapours of the stomack ascending to the higher parts of the body which after by the frigidity of the braine descend againe lower and more cool by which Sleep is begot he is therefore not unproperly called the son of Night which Night cals me now to rest with the finishing of this second book called Euterpe Explicit Lib. 2. THE THIRD BOOK of Women inscribed THALIA Treating of Illustrious Queens Famous Wives Mothers Daughters c. Containing the Histories of sundry Noble Ladies GOrgias held opinion that Women were not to be honoured according to their form but their fame preferring actuall vertue before superficiall beauty to incourage which in their sex funerall orations were allowed by the Roman Lawes to be celebrated for all such as had been either presidents of
wife of Orgiantes Regulus and born in Galatia Plutarch cals her Oriagontes it is thus related of her The army and the forces of the Gallogrecians being part of them defeated and the rest taken captive by Ca. Manlius then Consull neer to the mount Olympus this Chiomara the wife of Regulus a woman of most known modesty and chastity being first taken and after committed to the custody of a Roman Centurion was forceably by him adulterated A commandment comming from the Consull that all the treasure of which the Lady was possest should be confiscate to the Centurion only her selfe with that ransome to be returned safe and untoucht to her husband she presently promised the Captaine to bring him to a place where all his desires should be satisfied He of a covetous disposition with all celerity hasted with her to the discovery of this Magazine where she before had placed a company of Gallogrecians her Country men and in their language commanded them to fall upon him and kill him which done she cut off his head and presented it to her husband and kneeling to him both expressed the nature of her injury and the manner of her revenge The censures of the Consull Manlius and her husband Regulus both assented in this That she was of courage unmatchable for though her body was brought under the subjection of an enemy neither her mind could bee conquered nor her chastity made captive An ancient woman amongst the Syracusans when all the the subjects of Dionysius with many execrations cursed and openly inveighed against his insufferable cruelties she only was observed morning and evening to sollicite the gods for his long life and happinesse which comming to the eare of the King he caused her to be called before him and demanded of her the cause Why amongst all his oppressed subjects who daily wisht his ruine she alone invoak'd the gods for his health and preservation to whom with an undanted resolution she thus answered That which I do O King is not without due premeditation and grounded both upon reason and judgement for we were before opprest with a Tyrant whose government was very grievous unto us after him succeeded another farre more burdensome and cruell then the former for whose destruction I amongst the rest besought the powers above now you being by succession the third and more bloody and inhumane then the former I therefore with great devotion pray for your continuance lest when you be taken from us the devill himselfe take upon him the Scepter and succeed you in your principality The Tyrant though toucht to the quick yet in regard of her age and fearelesse liberty of her language suffered her to depart unpunisht Thâ—s Tertia Aemilia a famous Roman Lady was the wife of the first Affricanus the mother of Cornelia mother to Caiâ—â— and 〈◊〉 Gracchus She was of such gentlenesse and patience 〈◊〉 knowing her husband to be familiar with one of her handmaids yet she dissembled it lest he that had conquered the third part of the world should have the imputation of any such lightnesse laid upon him being so far from revenge that her husband being dead she gave her bondwoman manumission and married her richly to a freed man of her own Turia was the wife of Quint. Lucretius who when her husband was proscribed by the Triumvirate and therefore instantly to depart into exile only trusting the secrefie of her chambermaid she hid her husband in her house betwixt two chambers where no search could discover him where to her great perill she kept him long without any prejudice or danger expressing therein her singular faith and loialty that when the rest that were confined into Countries remote were exposed to the labour of the body and discontent of the mind he alone under his own roof and in his own chamber lived safe in the bosom of his wife so remarkably loving and constant Sulpitia being strictly kept by her mother Julia lest he should follow her husband Lentulus Crustellio into banishment who by the Triumvirate was confined into Sicily notwithstanding putting on the habit of a servant past through their guards and watches and attended only with two hand-maids and as many men-servants by secret flight came to the place whither he was proscribed leaving all the pleasures and delicates of Rome to participate with the miseries of a husband Pliny writes of another Sulpitia a famous Roman Lady daughter to Paterculus and wife to Quint. Fulvius Flaccus she when the Senate and Decem-virat by inspection into the books of Sybill had decreed that an image should be dedicated to Venus Verticordia by which the minds both of virgins and matrons might be the more alienated from libidinous affections and reduced to the strict rules of modesty and shamefastnesse when to the dedication of this work out of the whole City a hundred of the most chast matrons were to be selected and then out of these hundred ten supposed to be pure above the rest and out of these one to be preferred this Sulpitia carried the suffrage from all for vertue modesty and incomparable chastity This Julia was the daughter of Caius Caesar and wife of Pompetus Magnus after the battell of Pharsalia seeing the garment of her husband brought home sprinkled with his blood and not yet knowing of his death the object so affrighted her that instantly at the sight thereof she sunk down to the earth and in the extremity of that passion was with much paine and anguish delivered of that burden in her womb which no sooner parted from her but in that agony she expired Portia the wife of Brutus and daughter of Cato whose noble resolution and conjugall love to her husband all future ages may admire for heaâ—ing that in the battell at Philippi he was vanquisht and slain when all weapons and instruments of death were strictly kept from her she feared not with her womanish spiriâ— to â—nitate if not exceed the resolution of her father in his death for by swallowing hâ—â— burning coles she expired Herein only they differ that he by a common she by an unheard of death were extinct Horestilla was the wife of Marcus Plautius who by the commandement of the Senate having the charge of threescore ships to pass into Asia his wife so entirely was devoted to his love that she shipt her self with him exposing her self to the dangers of the â—â—a but not able through her weaknesse to endure the casualties appending on so harsh a journie as the distemperature of weather and such like in the City Tarentum fell sick and died Plautius willing to shew himself a husband worthy such a wife when her body was brought to the funerall 〈◊〉 betwixt the ceremonies of annointing her body and taking his leave with a parting kisse fell suddenly upon his naked sword and so slew himself which his friends seeing and lamenting they took him as he was apparelled without so much as
the Athenian who hapning by chance upon the place where she found her sons and daughters mixt together in the horrible action of incest she was suddenly strook with that horror and extasie that neither able to punish the fact nor reprove the heinousnesse of the sin she was struck mure and dumb Her children punisht their own offence with voluntary death and she was deprived the use of her speech all her life time after Cyane and Medullina DOsithaeus in his book Râ—rum sicularum commemorates this history Cyanippus Syracusanus sacrificing to the â—ods amongst all others he had neglected the celebrations of Bacchus at which the god incenst and to revenge himselfe of the injury punished him with drunkennesse when at a high feast he found him pleasantly disposed being otherwise in his own condition of a known abstinence the heat of his wine wrought with such violence upon him that meeting by accident his own daughter Cyane in a dark and remote place and ignorant who she was he forcibly defloured her in which wrestling together she wrang the ring off from his finger hoping by that in time to find out the adulterer This ring she gave her nurse in keeping not long after a pest raigning in the City the Oracle being consulted with returned this answer That unlesse the incestuous person were sacrificed to the gods that have the charge of punishing these horrible vices the plague should still continue amongst them The people being as much to seek as before in regard that the person aimed at was to them altogether unknown Cyane truly apprehending the intent of the Oracle took her father by the reverend locks and dragging him to the Temple slew him there before the altar which she intended for the common good but to expiate her own sin in killing her father she fell upon the same sword and in her death mingled her blood with his Aristides writes a history to the like effect In the celebrations of Bacchus feasts Arnutius who was likewise a man of known temperance from his birth was for the like contempt alike punished by the god of Healths This Roman touched with the like distemperature in the dark vitiated by force his daughter Medullina she also by his â—ing knowing the incestuous bethought a greater mischiefe for having a second time besotted him in the dregs of the grape and crowning him with Vine leaves like a Bacchinall slew him at the Altar Excuse me reâ—der I illustrate not these as they are parracides but as without respect of time person or place they thought no revenge great enough to be inflicted on the corrupters of thier virginities Erixo ARchelaus the Tyrant using many tyrannies upon the Cyraeneans over whom he usurped but more by the evill instigation of one Laarchus whom he had enterteined as his familiar friend and counsellor was at length supplanted by this Laarchus whom he most trusted and as some think poisoned Archelaus left behind him a son after his grandfathers name Battus Faelix called Battus who because he was weak of body and lame of his feet his mother Erixo in whose guardianship he was was by that means held in more respect and reverence being a woman of approved humanity and goodnesse Laarchus notwithstanding she had the love and hearts of all the Citizens yet he injoied the power and by the help of his mercenary souldiers usurped the dominion over all But apprehending in himselfe that his tyranny could not last long without better support he sent to this chast dowager to treat with her of marriage proposing to her as a main article to make her son Battus copartner with him in his regency About this motion she consulted with her brothers pretending a seeming consent They debated with Laarchus but somewhat protractedly about the matter in which interim she privately sent to the usurper one of her damosels with a message That notwithstanding her brothers as unwilling the match should go forward had made needlesse delaies yet her purpose was so fixt upon the motion especially since it concerned the generall good that she wholly submitted her selfe to his service insomuch that if it pleased him to vouchsafe to come privately in the night she would yeeld her honour intirely up into his hand upon which beginning a good successe would doubtlesse follow for then in vaine her brothers and kinred should oppose themselves against that to which the publike good occasion place opportunity and all things necessary invited them This message was plausible to Laarchus who apprehended at once the embraces of a beauteous Lady a principality and a continuance thereof Briefly the night was betwixt them appointed and he in regard of her honour to come privately and unattended all which she reveal'd to her eldest brother Poliarchus making him solely of her counsell who at the time of their appointed meeting hid himselfe in his sisters chamber Laarchus comes singly according to promise and is admitted by Erixo and in the midst of his hopes ready to cast himself into her imbraces is transpierc'd and slaine and his body cast over the wals Battus proclaimed Prince and 〈◊〉 liberty restored to the long opprest Cyâ—aenian This Poliarchus did in revenge of Archilâ—◠〈…〉 to his chast sister Erixo There were then about the City many souldiers belonging to Amasis King of Egypt by whose assistance Laarchus had been long terrible to the people these complained to the King accusing Poliarchus and Erixo of the murder of Laarchus But as he was about to invade the Cyraenians his mother happily died and so hindered that expedition Poliarchus and Erixo notwithstanding purposed a voluntary journie into Egypt to purge themselves of all accusations commenced against them in which journy Critola a woman of great reverence and very aged as having been the wife of Battus Faelix woule needs accompany them These appearing before Amasis so well pleaded their own cause that their injuries appeared to him much to surmount their revenge so that embracing Erixo he commended her fortitude and temperance and with Princely gifts sent them back into their own Countrie A Woman of the City Pergamus MIthridates King of Pontus having divers waies opprest the Galatians as by sending to the City by way of invitation to Pergamus for divers of the chiefe Citizens and then unjustly detaining them This wrought such an impression to supplant the Tyrant in the heart of Toredorix Tetrarch of Tosipporus that he made a combination wherein many Noble Gentlemen of quality were ingaged all which had vowed the Tyrants death Their plot being discovered they in the attempt surprised were all commanded to death in the midst of the execution Mithridates remembred a beautifull young man of extraordinary shape and feature that was one in the conspiracy but halfe despairing whether he were yet alive he sent in hast that if the hangman had not done his office upon him to reprieve him to his mercie This young mans name was Bepolitanus whose turn being come and he
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
himselfe from the dog and away he flies The Citizen by thâ—â— means secured from the present danger and willing to be gratefull to his preserver comes to the labourer and bargains for the mastiffe the price is made and both parties agreed It is to be presupposed that the devill in this feare had lefâ— for hast his bag behind him and fled out of sight which the Citizen apprehending and being emboldned with so valiant a second thinks to put a new trick upon his adversary for he imagins that ten to one he will come back again for his bag therefore he intreats the poor man to help him to put the dog into the sack and tie the mouth of it fast with the strings All is done and they retire themselves apart when just as they imagined out comes the devill peaking from the place where he lay hid to see iâ— the coast was clear and casting his eies timerously about him as fearing the like assault he came softly treading to the place where he left his sack and gently feeling finds somewhat to stir therein upon which he presently imagines that it was the supposed Cuckold who for fear had crept into the same and being wondrous jocund with this conceit snatcheth him up upon his back and with his glad purchase sinks himselfe down among the infernals His return was rumour'd in hell and a Synod called in which Lucifer seated himselfe in his wonted state with all his Princes Judges and Officers about him all in great expectation of the object so much desired the messenger is summon'd who appears before them with his bag at his back or rather upon his neck he is commanded to discover his strange creature so often spoken of but till then in that place not seen the sacks mouth is opened out flies the mastiffe amongst them who seeing so many ugly creatures together thought it seems he had been amongst the Bears in Paris garden but spying Lucifer to be the greatest and ill-favoured amongst them first leaps up into his face and after flies at whomsoever stood next him The devils are dispers'd every one runs and makes what shift he can for himselfe the Sessions is dissolved the Bench and Bale dock cleared and all in generall so affrighted that ever since that accident the very name hath been so terrible amongst them as they had rather encertein into their dark and sad dominions ten thousand of their wives then any one man who bears the least character of a Cuckold But having done with this sporting I proceed to what is more serious Of Women remarkable for their love to their Husbands IT is reported of the wives of Wynbergen a free place in Germany that the Town being taken in an assault by the Emperor and by reason the Citizens in so valiantly defending their lives and honours had been the overthrow of the greatest part of his army the Emperour grew so inplacable that he purposed though mercy to the women yet upon the men a bloody revenge Composition being granted and articles drawn for the surrender of the Town it was lawfull for the matrons and virgins by the Emperours edict to carry out of their own necessaries a burden of what they best liked The Emperour not dreaming but that they would load themselves with their jewels and coin rich garments and such like might perceive them issuing from the Ports with every wife her husband upon her back and every virgin and damosel her father or brother to expresse as much love in preserving their lives then as the men had before valour in defending their liberties This noble example of conjugall love and piety took such impression in the heart of Caesar that in recompence of their noble charity he not only suffered them to depart peaceably with their first burdens but granted every one a second to make choice of what best pleased them amongst all the treasure and wealth of the City Michael Lord Montaigne in his Essaies speaks only of three women for the like vertue memorable the first perceiving her husband to labour of a disease incurable and every day more and more to languish perswaded him resolutely to kill himselfe and with one blow to be rid of a lingring torment but finding him to be somewhat faint-hearted she thus put courage into him by her own noble example I quoth she whose sorrow for thee in thy sicknesse hath in some sort paraâ—leld thy torment am willing by one death both to give date unto that which hath for thy love afflicted me and thy violent and unmedicinable torture So after many perswasive motives to encourage his fainting resolution she intended to die with him in her arms and to that purpose lest her hold by accident or affright should unloose she with a cord bound fast their bodies together and taking him in her loving embraces from an high window which overlooked part of the sea cast themselves both headlong into the water As pious affection shewed that renowned matron Arria vulgarly called Arria mater because she had a daughter of the name she seeing her husband Poetus condemned and willing that he should expire by his own hand rather then the stroke of a common hangman perswaded him to a Roman resolution but finding him somewhat danted with the present fight of death she snatcht up a sword with which dog into the sack and tie the mouth of it fast with the strings All is done and they retire themselves apart when just as they imagined out comes the devill peaking from the place where he lay hid to see iâ— the coast was clear and casting his eies timerously about him as fearing the like assault he came softly treading to the place where he left his sack and gently feeling finds somewhat to stir therein upon which he presently imagines that it was the supposed Cuckold who for fear had crept into the same and being wondrous jocund with this conceit snatcheth him up upon his back and with his glad purchase sinks himselfe down among the infernals His return was rumour'd in hell and a Synod called in which Luciser seated himselfe in his wonted state with all his Princes Judges and Officers about him all in great expectation of the object so much desired the messenger is summon'd who appears before them with his bag at his back or rather upon his neck he is commanded to discover his strange creature so often spoken of but till then in that place not seen the sacks mouth is opened out flies the mastiffe amongst them who seeing so many ugly creatures together thought it seems he had been amongst the Bears in Paris garden but spying Luciser to be the greatest and ill-favoured amongst them first leaps up into his face and after flies at whomsoever stood next him The devils are dispers'd every one runs and makes what shift he can for himselfe the Sessions is dissolved the Bench and Bale dock cleared and all in generall so affrighted that ever since that accident
the very name hath been so terrible amongst them as they had rather encertein into their dark and sad dominions ten thousand of their wives then any one man who hears the least character of a Cuckold But having done with this sporting I proceed to what is more serious Of Women remarkable for their love to their Husbands IT is reported of the wives of Wynbergen a free place in Germany that the Town being taken in an assault by the Emperor and by reason the Citizens in so valiantly defending their lives and honours had been the overthrow of the greatest part of his army the Emperour grew so inplacable that the purposed though mercy to the women yet upon the men a bloody revenge Composition being granted and articles drawn for the surrender of the Town it was lawfull for the matrons and virgins by the Emperours edict to carry out of their own necessaries a burden of what they best liked The Emperour not dreaming but that they would load themselves with their jewels and coin rich garments and such like might perceive them issuing from the Ports with every wife her husband upon her back and every virgin and demosel her father or brother to expresse as much love in preserving their lives then as the men had before valour in defending their liberties This noble example of conjugall love and piety took such impression in the heart of Caesar that in recompence of their noble charity he not only suffered them to depart peaceably with their first burdens but granted every one a second to make choice of what best pleased them amongst all the treasure and wealth of the City Michael Lord Montaigne in his Essaies speaks only of three women for the like vertue memorable the first perceiving her husband to labour of a disease incurable and every day more and more to languish perswaded him resolutely to kill himselfe and with one blow to be rid of a lingring torment but finding him to be somewhat faint-hearted she thus put courage into him by her own noble example I quoth she whose sorrow for thee in thy sicknesse hath in some sort paralleld thy torment am willing by one death both to give date unto that which hath for thy love afflicted me and thy violent and unmedicinable torture So after many perswasive motives to encourage his fainting resolution she intended to die with him in her arms and to that purpose lest her hold by accident or affright should unloose she with a cord bound fast their bodies together and taking him in her loving embraces from an high window which overlooked part of the sea cast themselves both headlong into the water As pious affection shewed that renowned matron Arria vulgarly called Arria mater because she had a daughter of the name she seeing her husband Poetus condemned and willing that he should expire by his own hand rather then the stroke of a common hangman perswaded him to a Roman resolution but finding him somewhat danted with the present fight of death she snatcht up a sword with which she transpierc'd her selfe and then plucking it from her bosome presented it unto her husband only with these few and last words Poete non dolet Hold Poetus it hath done me no harm and so fell down and died of whom Martial in his first book of Epigrams hath left this memory Casta suo gladium cum traderet Aria Poeto Quem dedit visceribus traxerat illa suis Si qua fides vulnus quod seci non dolet inquit Sed quod tu facies hoc mihi Poete dolet When Aria did to Poetus give that steel Which she before from her own brest had tane Trust me quoth she no smart at all I feel My only wound 's to think upon thy pain The third was Pompeia Paulina the wife of Seneca who when by the tyrannous command of Nero she saw the sentence of death denounced against her husband though she was then young and in the best of her years and he aged and stooping notwithstanding so pure was her affectionat zeale towards him that as soon as she perceived him to bleed caused her own vein to be opened so to accompany him in death few such presidents this our age affordeth Yet I have lately seen a discourse intituled A true Narration of Rathean Herpin who about the time that Spinola with the Bavarians first entred the Pallatinate finding her husband Christopher Thaeon Appoplext in all his limbs and members with an invincible constancy at severall journies bore him upon her back the space of 1300 English miles to a Bath for his recovery These and the like presidents of nuptiall piety make me wonder why so many Satyrists assume to themselves such an unbridled liberty to inveigh without all limitation against their Sex I hapned not long since to steale upon one of these censorious fellowes and found him writing after this manner I wonder our fore-fathers durst their lives Hazard in daies past with such choice of wives And as we read to venture on so many Methinks he hath enow that hath not any Sure either women were more perfect then Or greater patience doth possesse us men Or it belongs to them since Eve's first curse That as the world their Sex growes worse and worse But who can teach me Why the fairer still They are more false good Oedipus thy skill Or Sphinx thine toresolve me lay some ground For my instruction good the like is found ' Mongst birds and serpents did you never see A milk white Swan in colour like to thee That wast my mistresse once as white as faire Her downie breasts to touch as soft as rare Yet these deep waters that in torments meet Can never wash the blacknesse from her feet Who ever saw a Dragon richly clad In golden scales but that within he had His goâ—ge stufe full of venome I behold The woman and methinks a cup of gold Stands brim'd before me whence should I but sip I should my fate and death tast from thy lip But henceforth I 'll beware thee since I know That under the more spreading Misceltow The greater Mandrake thrives whose shrieke presages Or ruine or disaster Who ingages Himselfe to beauty he shall find dependants Contempt Disdain and Scorn with their attendants Inconstancy and Falshood in their train Wait loosnesse and intemperance But in vain Before the blind we glorious objects bring Lend armour to the lame or counsell sing To them will find no ears be 't then approv'd None ever fair that hath sincerely lov'd If beautifull she 's proud if rich then scorn She thinks becomes her best But ' ware the horn Thou man if she be crost once bright or black Well shap'd or ugly doth she fortunes lack Or be she great in means haunts she the Court City or Countrie They all love the sport Further he was proceeding when I staied his pen and so stopped the torrent of his poeticall raptureo and so laid before him
with life who was seen to enter there Therefore when Theseus came to Minos he sent him to be devoured by this Minotaur of which Ariadne having notice being enamoured of Theseus she sent him a sword by which he slew the monstrous Homicide and that was the clew so often remembred by the Poets which guided Theseus out of the Labyrinth Canace Canusia Valeria Tusculana MAcareus and Canace were brother and sister the sonne and daughter to Aeolus King of the winds for so the Poets feigned him because the clouds and mists arising from the seven Aeolian Islands of which he was King alwaies pretended great gusts and tempests he is reported to be the son of Jupiter and Alceste daughter to Hyppotes the Tyrian of whom he had the denomination of Hippotides This Macareus and Canace having most lewdly and incestuously loved one another covering their bedding and bosoming under the unsuspected pretext of consanguinity and neernesse in blood It could no longer be conceal'd by reason Canace at length brought forth a son which as she would secretly have conveied out of the Court by the hands of her trusty Nurse who had been before acquainted with all their wicked proceedings the infant by crying betraied it selfe to the grandfather who searching the Nurse examining the matter finding the incest and miserably distracted with the horridnesse of the fact instantly in the heat of his incensed anger caused the innocent infant to be cut in pieces and limb by limp cast to the dogs and before his face devoured This Macareus hearing took sanctuary in the Temple of Apollo but Canace by reason of her greennesse and weak estate not able to make escape and shun the violence of her fathers threatned fury he sent her a sword and withall commanded her to punish her selfe according to the nature of the fact Which she receiving writ a passionate letter to her brother in which she first besought him to have a care of his safety and next to cause the bones of the slaughter'd infant to be gathered together and put into an urn with hers this having done with the sword sent her by her father she transpierc'd her self and so expired The like weread of Canusia daughter of Papirius Volucris who being found with child by Papirius Romanus her own naturall brother when the heinousnesse of the fact came to the knowledge of the father he sent to either of them a sharp sword with which they as resolutely slew themselves as they had before rashly offended The like successe of her incestuous affection had Valeria Tusculana who as Plutarch relates by the counsell of one of her handmaids comming privately in the night into the arms of her father and the deed after made known to Valerius he in detestation of the act slew her with his own hand Julia the Empresse THese abominable sins that have been punisht in inferiour persons have in great ones been countenanced Sextus Aurelius and Aelius Spartianus both testifie That Antonius Caracalla Emperour doting upon his stepmother Julia was often heard to say in her presence I would if it were lawfull at length apprehending his purpose to these his words she made this reply What you list to doe O Emperour you may make lawfull Princes have power to make Lawes but are not tied to keep any by which words imboldned he took her to his bed whose son Geta but a while before he had caused to be slain Herodotus remembers us of one Opaea the stempmother to Scithes King of the Scythians who likewise took her to his bed and made her his Queen So Berenices the sister of Ptolomaeus Evergetes was made partner both of his bed and Kingdome Arsinoe the sister of Ptolomaeus Philadelphus became his concubine The like did Herod Antipas unto Herodias the wife of his brother Philip. We read also of one Leucon who slew his brother Oxilochus King oâ— Pontus for the love of his wife whom he after married Faustina the sister of Marcus Antonius Emperour became her brothers paramour on whom he begat Lucilla whom he after gave in marriage to his brother L. Antonius Theodoricus King of the Frenchmen married the daughter of his own brother whom he before had slain And Pontanus remembers us of one Johannes Ariminensis who espoused his own sister Philip the brother of Alphonsus the tenth King of Spaine forcibly married Christiana daughter to the King of Dacia his own brothers wife all Christianity and Religion set apart Volaterranus remembers us of one Stratonice who being devishly doted on by Antiochus Soter King of Syria his own father at his importunity gave her up into his sons incestuous embraâ—es Virgil in his tenth book speaks of Casperia stepmother to Anchemolus the son of Rhaetus King of the Marâ—ubians who was by him adulterated These prodigious acts have been encouraged by Kings drawing their presidents from Jupiter who vitiated Ceres and married his sister Juno when in my opinion the industry of the Poets in illustrating the escapes of Jupiter and the other gods was aimed at no other end then to manifest unto all men That such deities were not worthy adoration that were calumnized with so many whoredomes adulteries and incests The sisters of Cambyses THese might seem fearfull enough before related but I will give you a short taste of some more abominable I have shewed the examples of Lust but these following are besides lust polluted with unheard of Tyranny Herodotus in his third book speaking at large of the life and acts of Cambyses the great Persian King and son of Cyrus relates that having shewed his puissance abroad in Egypt Greece and other places to the terror of the greatest of the world he caused his innocent brother Smerdis to be secretly made away by the hand of his most trusted Praxaspes The next inhumanity which he purposed to exemplifie unto the world was the death of his sister who followed him in his Camp to Egypt and back again being not only his sister by parents but his wife also The manner how she came to be his Queen was as followeth Before his time it was not lawfull but punishable amongst the Persians to marry into that proximity of blood but Cambyses surprized with the love of his sister and having resolved by what means soever to make her his wife yet to colour his purpose he sent for those honourable persons who were stiled the Kings Judges being selected men for their wisedomes and of great place and quality as those that enjoy their offices Durante via unlesse some capitall crime be proved against them besides they are the expounders of the Lawes and to their causes all matters of doubt and controversie are referred These being convented The King demanded of them Whether they had any one law amongst so many which licenc'd a man that had a will so to do to contract matrimony with his sister to whom the Judges thus ingeniously answered We
having learned certaing problems and aenigmas of the muses disposed her selfe in the mountaine Phycaeus The riddle that she proposed to the Thebans was this What creature is that which hath one distinguishable voice that first walkes upon four next two and lastly upon three feet and the more legs it hath is the lesse able to walk The strict conditions of this monster were these that so often as he demanded the solution of this question till it was punctually resolved he had power to chuse out any of the people where he best liked whom he presently devoured but they had this comfort from the Oracle That this Aenigma should be no sooner opened and reconciled with truth but they should be freed from this misery and the monster himselfe should be destroied The last that was devoured was Aemon son to King Creon who fearing lest the like sad fate might extend it selfe to the rest of his issue caused proclamation to be made That whosoever could expound this riddle should marry Jocasta the wife of the dead King Laius and be peaceably invested in the Kingdome this no sooner came to the ears of Oedipus but he undertook it and resolved it thus This creature saith he is man who of all other hath only a distinct voice he is born four footed as in his infancy crawling upon his feet and hands who growing stronger erects himselfe and walkes upon two only but growing decrepit and old he is fitly said to move upon three as using the help of his staffe This solution was no sooner published but Sphinx cast herselfe headlong from the top of that high Promontory and so perished and Oedipus by marrying the Queen was with a generall suffrage instated in the Kingdome He begot of her â—wo sons and two daughters Eâ—eocles and Polâ—nâ—ces Ismâ—ne and Antigone though some write that Oedipus had these children by Rurigenia the daughter of Hyperphantes These former circumstances after some years no sooner came to light but Jocasta in despair strangled her selfe Oedipus having torn out his eies was by the people expulsed Thebes cursing at his departure his children for suffering him to undergo that injury his daughter Antigone lead him as far as to Colonus a place in Attica where there is a grove celebrated to the Eumenides and there remained till he was removed thence by Theseus and soon after died And these are the best fruits that can grow from so abominable a root Of the miserable end of his incestuous issue he that would be further satisfied let him read Sophocles Apollodorus and others Oâ— him Tyresias thus prophesied Neque hic laetabitur Calibus eventis suis nam factus c. No comfort in his fortunes he shall find He now sees clearly must at length be blind And beg that 's now a rich man who shall stray Through forrein Countries for his doubtfull way Still gripping with his staffe The brother he And father of his children both shall be His mothers son and husband first strike dead His father and adulterate next his bed Crithaeis SHE was wife to one Phaemius a schoolmaster and mother to Homer Prince of the Greek Poets Ephorus of Coma in a book intiteled the Cumaean Negotiation leaves her story thus related Atelles Maeones and Dius three brothers were born in Cuma Dius being much indebted was forced to remove thence into Ascra a village of Boeotia and there of his wife Pâ—cemedâ— he begot Hesiodus Atelles in his own Country dying a naturall death committed the pupillage of his daughter Crithaeis to his brother Maeones but comming to ripe growth she being by him vitiated and proving with child both fearing the punishment due to such an offence she was conferred upon Phaemius to whom she was soon after married and walking one day out of the City to bath her selfe in the river Miletus she was by the stood side delivered of young Homer and of the name thereof called him Mâ—lesigines But after losing his sight he was called Homer for such of the Cumaeans and Ionians are called Omouroi Aristotle he writes contrary to Ephorus that what time Neleus the son of Codrus was President in Ionia of the Collony there then newly planted a beautifull Virgin of this Nation was forced and deâ—â—oured by one of the Genius's which used â—o dance with the Muses who after remâ—ved to a place called Aegina and meeting with certain forragers and robbers that made sundry incursions into the Country she was by them surprized and brought to Smyrna who presented her to Meonides a companion to the King of the Lydians he at the first sight inamoured of her beauty took her to wife who after sporting her selfe by the banks of Milâ—rus brought forth Homer and instantly expired And since we had occasion to speak of his mother let it not seem altogether impertinent to proceed a little of the son who by reason of his being hurried in his childhood from one place to another and ignorant both of his Country and parents went to the Oracle to be resolved concerning them both as also his future fortunes who returned him this doubtfull answer Foelâ—x miser ad sortemes quia natus utramque Perquiris patrians matris tibi non patris câ—â—tat c. Happy and wretched both must be thy fate That of thy Country dost desire to heare Known is thy 〈◊〉 clime thy father 's not An Island in the sea to Creet not neer Nor yet far â—ss in which thou shalt expire When 〈◊〉 a riddle shalt to thee propose Whose dark Aenigma thou canst not acquire A double Fate thy life hath thou shalt lose Thine eies yet shall thy lofty Muse ascend And in thy death thou life have without end In his later daies he was present at Thebes at their great feast called Saturnalia and from thence comming to Ius and sitting on a stone by the water port there landed some fishermen whom Homer asked what they had taken but they having got nothing that day but for want of other work only lousing themselves thus merily answered him Non capta afferimus fuerant quae capta relictis We bring with us those that we could not find But all that we could catch we lâ—ft behind Meaning that all such vermine as they could catch they cast away but what they could not take they brought along Which riddle when Homer could not unfold it is said that for very griefe he ended his life This unmatchable Poet whom no man regarded in his life yet when his works were better considered of after his death he had that honour that seven famous Cities contended about the place of his birth every one of them appropriating it unto themselves Pindarus the Poet makes question whether he were of Chius or Smyrna Simonides affirms him to be of Chius Antimachus and Nicander of Colophon Aristotle the Philosopher to be of Ius Ephorus the Historiographer that he was of Cuma Some have been of opinion that he was born in Salamine
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
rather a corrupter of their chastities then any way a curer of their infirmities blaming the matrons as counterfeiting weaknesse purposely to have the company and familiarity of a loose and intemperate young man They prest their accusations so far that the Judges were ready to proceed to sentence against her when she opening her brest before the Senate gave manifest testimony that she was no other then a woman at this the Physitians being the more incens'd made the fact the more heinous in regard that being a woman she durst enter into the search of that knowledge of which their Sex by the law was not capable The cause being ready again to go against her the noblest matrons of the City assembled themselves before the Senate and plainly told them they were rather enemies then husbands who went about to punish her that of all their Sex had bin the most studious for their generall health and safety Their importancy so far prevailed after the circumstances were truly considered that the first decree was quite abrogated and free liberty granted to women to employ themselves in those necessary offices without the presence of men So that Athens was the first City of Greece that freely admitted or Midwives by the means of this damosell Agnodice Of women that suffered martyrdome ANd of these in briefe Corona was a religious woman who suffered martyrdome under the Tyranny of Antonius the Emperor Her death was after this manner she was tied by the arms and legs betwixt two trees whose stiffe branches were forced and bowed down for the purpose the bowes being shackned and let loose her body was tossed into the aire and so cruelly dissevered limb from limb Anatholia a virgin by the severe command of Faustinianus the President was transpierc'd with a sword Felicula as Plutarch witnesseth when by no perswasion or threats promises or torments she could be forced to renounce the Christian Faith by the command of Flaccus Comes she was commanded to be shut up in a jakes and there stilled to death Murita had likewise the honour of a Martyr who being banished by Elphedorus a certaine Arrian opprest with cold and hunger most miserably died Hyrene the virgin because she would not abjure her faith and religion was by Sisimmius shot through with an arrow The like death suffered the martyr Christiana under Julian the Apostata Paulina a Roman Virgin and daughter to the Prefect Artemius was with her mother Candida stoned to death by the command of the Tyrant Dioclesian Agatho virgo Catanensis was strangled in Prison by the command of the Consul Quintianus Theodora a virgin of Antioch was beheaded by the tyranny of Dioclesian Julia Countesse of Eulalia suffered the same death under the President Diaconus Margarita a maid and a martyr had her head cut off by Olibrius Zoe the wife of Nicostratus was nailed unto a crosse and so ended her life partly with the torture of the gibbet and partly with the smoke that the executioner made at the foot of the gallowes suffocated Julia Carthagensis because she would not bow to idols and adore the falâ—e heathen gods but was a constant professor of the Christian Faith was martyred after the selfe same manner Emerita the sister of Lucius King of England who had the honour to be called the first Christian King of this Country she suffered for the Faith by fire Alexandria was the wife of Dacianus the President who being converted to the Faith by blessed Saint George was therefore by the bloody murderer her husbands own hands strangled Maximianus the son of Dioclesian with his own hands likewise slew his naturall sister Artemia because that forsaking all Idolatry she proved a convert to the true Christian Faith Flavia Domicilla a noble Lady of Rome was banished into the Isle Ponâ—ia in the fifteenth yeare of the raign 〈◊〉 Dâ—nâ—tian for no other reason but that she constantly professed her selfe to be a Christian These two following suffered persecution under Antonius Verus in France Blondina who is said to weary her tormentors patiently enduring more then they could malitiously inflict insomuch that before she fainted they confessed themselves overcome she ready still to suffer and beare when they had not blowes to give for as oft as she spake these words I am a Christian neither have I committed any evill she seemed to the spectators of her martyrdome to be so refreshed and comforted from above that she felt no paine or anguish in the middest of her torture and in that patience she continued without alternation even to the last gaâ—â— Biâ—â—is one that before through her womanish weaknesse had faiâ—â—ed for fear oâ— torments comming to see her with others exâ—â—uted was so strengthened to behold their constancy that as it were awakened out of her former dream and comparing those temporall punishments which lasted but a moment with the eternall pains of hell fire gave up her selfe freely for the Gospels sake Dionysius in an Epistle to Fabius Bishop of Antioch reckons up those that suffered martyrdome under Decius the Emperor Quinta a faithfull woman was by the Infidels brought into a Temple of their Idols unto which because she denied divine adoration they bound her hand and foot and most inhumanely dragged her along the streets upon the sharp stones but when that could not prevaile with her they beat her head and sides and bruised them against Milâ—stones that done she was pitiously scourged and lastly bloodily executed The same Lâ—ctors laid hands on Apollonia a Virgin but something grounded in years and because she spake boldly in the defence of her Faith first with barbarous cruelty they beat out her teeth then without the City they prepared a huge pile threatning to burn her instantly unlesse she would renounce her Christianity but she seeming to pause a little as if she meant better to consider of the matter when they least suspected leapt suddenly into the fire and was there consumed to ashes Ammomarion a holy Virgin after the suffering of many torments under the same Tyrant gave up her life an acceptable sacrifice for the Gospell Mercuria a vertuous woman and one Dionysia a fruitfull and child-bearing martyr after they were questioned about their faith and in all arguments boldly opposed the Judges were first rackt and tortured till they were past all sence of feeling that done they caused them to be executed Theodosia was a virgin of Tyrus about the age of eighteen years she comming to visit certaine prisoners at Cesarea who were called to the bar and because they stood stedfastly in the defence of the Gospell prepared themselves to hear the most welcome sentence of death pronounced against them which Theodosia seeing gently saluted them comforted them and perswaded them to continue in their constancy withall humbly desired them to remember her devoutly in their praiers which she knew would be acceptable to him for whose love they so freely offered up their lives The Officers this hearing dragged
other insomuch that the horse opprest with hunger devoured her hence came that Adage 〈◊〉 upon Diogineanus More cruel then Hyppomanes Gregorius Turonensis remembers one Deuteria fearing lest her young daughter now grown ripe and marriageable who might be deflâ—ured by King Theodebertus cast her headlong into the river that runs by the City Viridunum where she was drowned Orchamus finding his daughter Leucothoe to be vitiated by Apollo caused her to be buried alive Lucilla the daughter of Marcus Antonus and Fausta as Herodian reports was slaine by the hand of her brother Commodus against whom she had before made a conjuration Lychione the daughter of Dedalion because she durst compare her selfe with Diana was by the goddesse wounded to death with an arrow at the celebration of whose exequies when her body was to be burnt her father likewise cast himselfe into the fire Hylonome the she Centaur seeing her husband Cillarius slain in the battell betwixt the Centaurs and the Lapithes fell upon his sword and so expired Anmianus and Marcellus lib. 16. have left recorded that Mithridates King of Pontus being overcome in a battell by Pompey committed his daughter Dyraptis to the safe custody of the Eunuch Menophilus to be kept in a strong Cittadel called Syntiarium which when Manutius Priscus had straitly besieged and the Eunuch perceived the defenders of the Castle dismaid and ready to submit themselves and give up the fort he drew out his sword and slew her rather then she should be mode a captive to the Roman General Sextas Aurelius writes of the Empresse Sabina the wife of Adrian who having suffered from him many grosse and servile injuries gave her selfe up to a voluntary death when she considered she had supported so inhumane a tyrant and such a contagious pest to the Common weal. Pontus de Fortuna speaks of a virgin amongst the Salattines called Neaera who grieving that a young man to whom she was betrothed had forsaken her and made choise of another caused her veins to be opened and bled to death Cleopatra after the death of Anthony lest she should be presented as a Captive to grace the triumphs of Augustus gave her arm to the biting of an Asp of which she died for in that manner was her picture presented in Rome of whom Propertius lib. 3. thus speaks Brachia spectavi sacris admorsa colubris Neaera and Charmione were the two handmaids of Cleopatra These as Plutarch and others report of them would by no perswasion survive their Queen and mistresse who perceiving as they were gasping betwixt life and death the Crown to be falne from the temples of their dead Lady raised themselves from the earth with the small strength they had left and placed it right again on her forehead that she might the better become her death which they had no sooner done but they both instantly fell down and breathed their last an argument of an unmatchable zeal to the Princesse their Lady Monima Miletia and Veronicha Chia were the wives of Mithridates who understanding of his tragicall fall and miserable end gave up their lives into the hands of the Eunuch Bochides Monima first hanged her self but the weight of her body breaking the cord she grew somewhat recovered and fell into this sad acclamation O execrable power of a diadâ—â— whose command even in this small sad service I cannot use which words were no sooner spoke but she offered her 〈◊〉 to the sword of the Eunuch who instantly dispatched 〈◊〉 both of life and torment Veronica drank oft a 〈◊〉 of wine tempered with person which dispersing into her veins and keeping her in a languishing torment her death was likewise hastned by the Eunuch Bochides A strange madnesse possest the Virgins of Milesia these as Aeltanus and others have writ gave themselves up to voluntary deaths many or the most strangling themselves this grew so common amongst them that scarce one day past in which some one or other of them were not found dead in their chambers To remedy which mischiefe the Senators of the City made a decree That what maid soever should after that time lay violent hands upon her self the body so found dead should be stript naked and in publick view dragg'd through the streets freely exposed to the â—ies of all men The impression of which shame more prevailing then the terror of death none was ever after known to commit the like outrage upon themselves Phaedra the step-mother to Hippolitus her son in law and wife of Theseus when she could not corrupt a young man her son in law to make incestuous the bed of his father despairing hung her selfe yet before her death she writ certain letters in which she accused Hippolitus to his father of incest which after proved the speedy cause of his death Amongst many strange deaths these of two mothers are not the least remarkable most strange it is that sudden joy should have much power to suffocate the spirits as the power of lightning The rumour of the great slaughter at the Lake of Thrasimenes being published one woman when beyond all hope she met her son at the City gate safely returned from the generall defeats cast her selfe into his arms where in that extasie of joy she instantly expired Another hearing her son was slain in the battell after much sorrow for his death sitting in her own house and spying him unexpectedly comming towards her safe and in health she was so overcome with sudden joy that not able to rise and give him meeting she died as she sate in her chaire Most strange it is that joy should make speedier way to death then sorrow these mothers Zoe remembred by Valerius Maximus lib. 9. cap. 12. So much I hope shall suffice for women that have died strange deaths for I had rather hear of many to live well then that any one should die ill I only intreat patience of the courteous Reader that as I have begun this book in sadnesse so he will give me leave to conclude it in jest Some no doubt though not justly will tax me for my too much intermixtion of history and say there be many things inserted not pertinent to my project in hand which might better have been left out then put in They in my conceit do but dally with me and put such a trick upon me as a Gentleman did upon a Country hostler My tale is but homely but it hath a significant Moral This traveller often using to a thorowfare Inne was much annoied by reason that betwixt his chamber and the stable where he commonly used to see his horse drest and meated there lay great heaps of pullens dung in his way which much offended him and being willing either to be rid of that inconvenience or punish him that might remedy it he took occasion to ask the hostler what dâ—nghill that was which was so offensive He answered him his
wives by reason of their exile halfe in despaire boldly took arms and first retiring themselves and making their own confines defensible after grew to the resolution to invade others Besides they disdained to marry with their neighbours calling it rather a servitude then Wedlock A singular example to all ages Thus they augmented their seigniories and establisht their Common-weal without the counsell or assistance of men whose fellowship they began now altogether to despise and to communicate their losse to make the widdows of equal fortune with the wives they slâ—w all the men that yet remained amongst them and after revenged the deaths of their husbands formerly slain upon the bordering people that conspiâ—ed against them At length by war having setled peace lest their posterity and memory should perish they had had mutuall congression with their neighbour Nations The men children they slew the 〈◊〉 they 〈◊〉 and brought up not in sowing and spinning but in hunting and practise of arms and horsemanship and that they better might use their lances and with the more ease at seven years of age they scared or rather burnt off their right breasts of which they took the name of Amazons as much as to say Vnimammae or Vrimammae i. those with one breast or with a burnt breast There were of them two Queens that jointly held the soveâ—â—ignty Marthesia and Lampedo these divided their people into two armies and being grown potent both in power and riches they went to warre by turns the one governing at home whilest the other forraged abroad and lest their should want honour and authority to their successes they proclaimed themselves to be derived from Mars insomuch that having subdued the greatest part of Europe they made incursions into Asia and there subdued many fortresses and Castles where having built Ephesus with many other Cities part of their army they sent home with rich and golden spoiles the rest that remaine to maintein the Empire of Asia were all with the Queen Marthesia or as some write Marpesiâ— defeated and slâ—â—n In whose place of soveraignty her daughter Orythâ—â— succeeded who besides her singular 〈◊〉 and fortunate successe in war was no lesse admired for her constant vow of virginity which to her death she kept inviolate The bruit of their glorious and invincible acts â—eaching as far as Greece Herculis with a noble assembly of the most heroick youths furnished nine ships with purpose to make proof of their valor two of foure sisters at that time had the principality Antiope and Orythia Orythians was then emploied in forrein expeditions Now when Hercules with the young Hero's landed upon the Amazonian continent Queen Antiope not jealous of the least hostility stood then with many of her Ladies unarmed on the shore who being suddenly assaulted by the Graecians were easily put to rout and they obteined an easie victory in this conflict many were slain and divers taken amongst whom were the two sisters of Antiope Menalippe surprized by Hercules and Hippolite by Theseus he subdued her by arms but was captivated by her beauty who after took her to his wife and of her begot Hippolitus Of her Sâ—â—eca in Agamemnon thus speaks Vidâ— Hippolite ferox pectore è medio rapi Spoâ—â—um sagittas The bold Hippolite did see that day Her breast despoil'd and her shafts tane away Of Menalippe Virgil thus Threicean sâ—xto spoliavit Amazona Baltheo Having relation to the golden belt of Thermedon which was numberd the sixt of Hercules his twelve labours He received that honour and she her liberty Orythia being then abroad and hearing of these outrages and dishonours done at home that war had been commenced against her sister and Theseus Prince of Athens born thence Hippolite whom she held to be no better then a ravisher impatient of these injuries she convented all her forces and incited them to revenge inferring that in vain they bore Empire in Europe and Asia if their dominions lay open to the spoils and rapines of the Grecians Having encouraged and perswaded her own people to this expedition she next demanded aid of Sagillus King of the Scythians to him acknowledging her selfe to be descended from that nation shewes the necessity of that war and the honour of so brave a victory hoping that for the glory of the Scythian Nation his men would not come behind her women in so just an enterprize the successe of which was undoubtedly spoile for the present and fame for her Sagillus with these motives encouraged sent his son Penaxagoras with a great army of horsemen to aid Orythea in this war but by reason of a dissention that fell in the camp the Prince of Scythia withdrew all his auxiliary fâ—â—ces and with them retired into his Country by reason of which defect the Amazons were defeated by the Grecians yet many of them after this battell recovered their Countries After this Orythea succeeded Penthisilaea she that in the aid of Priam oâ— as some say for the love of Hector came to the siege of Troy with a thousand Ladies where after many deeds of chivalry by her performed she was slain by the hands of Achilles or as the most will have it by Neoptolemus she was the first that ever fought with Poleax or wore a Targer made like an halfe Moon therefore she is by the Poets called Peltigera and Securigera as bearing a Targer or bearing a Poleaxe Therefore Ovid in his Epistle of Phaedra Prima securigeras inter virtute puellas And Virgil in his first book of Aeneid Ducit Amazoâ—â—dum lunatis Agmina peltis Penthâ—silaea â—urens mâ—â—iisque in millibus ardet Penthisilaea mad leads forth Her Amazonian train Arm'd with their moonâ—d shields and fights Mâ—dst thousands on the plain These Amazons endured till the time of Alexander and though Isiodorus Eph. 14. saith that Alexander the Great quite subverted their Nation yet Trogus Justine Q. Curtius and others are of a contrary opinion and affirm that when Alexander sent his Embassadors to demand of them tribute otherwise his purpose was to iâ—vade their territories their Queen Minithra or as some writers term her Thalestris returned him answer after this manner It is great wonder of thy small judgement O King that thou hast a desire to â—â—age war against women if thou being so great a conquerour shouldst be vanquished by us all thy former honours were blemished and thou perpetually branded with shame and infamy but if our gods being angry with 〈◊〉 should deliver us up into thy mercy what addition is it to 〈◊〉 honour to have had the mastery over weak women King Alexander it is said was pleased with this answer gâ—anting them freedome and said Women ought to be couâ—ted with fair woâ—ds and flattery and not with rough steel and hostility After this she sent to the King desiring to have his company as longing to have issue by him to succeed the father in 〈◊〉 and vertue to which he assented Some write she
sea-fight neer Salamine to behold which battel Xerxes had retired himselfe and stood but as a spectator Justine lib. 2. saith There was to be seen in Xerxes womanish feare in Artimesia manly audacity for she demeaned her selfe in that battell to the admiration of all men of whose ships the King taking especiall notice but not knowing to whom they belonged nor in whose management they then were one spake to the King and said Great Lord behold you not how bravely the Queen Artimesia bears her selfe this day the King would not at first beleeve that such resolution could be in that Sex 〈…〉 when notwithstanding her brave service he perceiv'd 〈…〉 and put to flight he sighing thus said All my men this day have shewed themselves women and there is but one woman amongst them and she onely hath shewed her selfe a man Many of the most illustrious persons died that day as also of the Meads amongst whom was the great Captain Aria Begnes the sonne of Darius and brother of Xerxes Cleopatra Queen of Aegypt the daughter of Dionysius Auleies after the death of Julius Caesar having taken Antonius in the bewitching 〈◊〉 of her beauty she was not contented with the Kingdomes of Aegypt Syria and Arabia but she was ambiâ—ious to sovereignize over the Roman Empire in which though she failed it shewed as invincible a spirit in 〈◊〉 as she exprest an unmatched 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of her voluntary death 〈◊〉 the Persian invading the Messagers and Scythians of which 〈◊〉 then reigned Queen she sent against him her only son 〈◊〉 with a puissant army to beat him back again beyond the river Araxes which he had 〈◊〉 with a mighty host rejected But the young man not 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 and policies of war suffered his souldiers in 〈…〉 to be invaded his 〈◊〉 rifled his army defeated and himselfe taken prisoner 〈…〉 the Queen sent to this purpose 〈…〉 This message being delivered to 〈◊〉 he regarded 〈…〉 but held it at the vain boast of a 〈◊〉 woman 〈…〉 being awaâ—â—d fromthe drinking 〈◊〉 wine and perceiving 〈…〉 Cyrus that he might be released from his bands to which the Persian granted 〈…〉 sooner found his legs unbound and his hands 〈…〉 cathct hold of a weapon and slew 〈…〉 The Queen having intelligence of the death of the 〈◊〉 of her son and withall that 〈◊〉 gave no heed to her admonition collected a puissant army of purpose to give him battell who inticed him by a counterfeit 〈…〉 straights of her Countery where having 〈…〉 her men she fell upon the Persians and made 〈…〉 the slaughter even to the defeating of their whole 〈…〉 strange and bloody execution Cyrus himselfe fell whose body Tâ—myris caused to be sercht for and being found filled a vessel full of blood into which commanding his head to be thrown she thus insultingly spake Of humane blood in thy life thou wert insatiate and now in thy death thou maist drink thy fill The fashions of the Messagets are after this manner described by Herâ—dotus Their habit and their food is according to the Scythians they â—ight as well on horseback as on foot being expert in both they are both Aâ—chers and Lanciers in al their weapons armor or caparisons using gold and brasse in the heads of their spears their quivers their daggers and other armor they wear brasse but whatsoever belongs to the head or to the breast is of the purest gold the breast places of their horses and what belong to their trappings and caparisons are buckled and studâ—ed with brasse but that which appertains to the head-stal or reins is of gold of iron and silver they have small use or none as being rare in their Country â—ut gold and brasse they have in abundance Every man marrieth a wiâ—e but not to his own peculiar use for they keep them in common for what the Greeks in this kind remember of the Scythians they do not it is customable only amongst the Messagets if any man have an appetite to a woman he only hangs his quiver upon the next bough and prostitutes hee in publike without taxation or shame There is no 〈◊〉 proposed to terminate their lives when any growes old his neighbours about him make a generall meeting and with great ceremony after the manner of a sacrifice cause him 〈◊〉 slain with other cattell in number according to 〈…〉 with whose â—lesh â—oil'd together they make a 〈…〉 him to dye in the most blessed estate 〈…〉 slain and eaten such as die of consumption or disease they eat not but â—ury in the earth accounting all 〈…〉 that suffered not immolation and whose 〈◊〉 was not â—easted with They neither sow nor reap but 〈…〉 their cattell and fish oâ— which the river Araxes yields them plenty they drink milk and honour the Sun and to the gods whom they most â—eare they sacrifice such 〈◊〉 beasts as they hold most fearfull and 〈◊〉 for the customes of the Mâ—ssagets Now lest it might 〈◊〉 almost against nature that amongst so many fighting women there should be no scolding at all let it not be taken amisse if I put you in mind of two or three shrowes by the way and so return again to my former argument Xantippe and Mirho HIeronymo writ a book against Iovinian in which he copiously discourses of the praise of Virginity reckoning a Catalogue of divers famous and renowned in that kind amongst sundry Nations besides the discommodities and inconveniences of scolding and contentious wives and amongst other husbands much troubled in that kind he speaks of Socrates who having two curst queans and both at once for the law of Athens did allow duplicity of wives could endure their scoldings and contumacie with such constancy and patience for having Zantippe and Mirho the daughters of Aristides the house was never without brawling and uprore One Euthidemus comming from the wrastling place and Socrates meeting him by chance compelled him home to supper and being sate at board and in sad and serious discourse Zantippe spake many bitter and railing words of disgrace and contumely against her husband but he nothing moved therewith nor making her the least answer she tipped up the Table and flung down all that was upon it But when Euthidemus being therewith much moved arose to be gone and instantly depart Why what harm is there quoth Socrates did not the same thing chance at your house when I dined with you the last day when a cackling hen cast down such things as were upon the board yet we your guests notwithstanding left not your house unmannerly Another time in the market she snatching his cloak from his back the standers by perswaded him to beat her but he replied so whilst she and I be tugging together you may stand by laughing and cry O wel done Zantippe O well done Socrates Another time she with her much loquacity had made him weary of the house therefore he sate him down upon a bench before the street door but she
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
great congregation complained of the murder of her father capitulating all their insolencies and her own injuries which she did with such feeling words and passionate tears that she not only attracted the eies of every one to behold but moved the hearts of all to pity which perceiving and how the multitude was affected towards her she gave to every of the murderers a particular nomination both of the families from whence they came and the places where they had then their residence The rioters this hearing and finding how the people were animated and incens'd against them they fled to Orchomenus but were not there admitted but excluded from forth the gates from thence they fled to Hippota a small City neer Hellicon scituate betwixt the Thebanes and the Corineans and were there received To them the Thebans sent that these murderers and ravishers might be surrendred up to their justice But being deni'd they with other Booetians made an expedition against them of which forces Phaedus then Pretor amongst the Tâ—ebans was made Captain the City Hippota was bravely besieged and assaulted so likewise as resolutely defended but number prevailing they were compelled to yield themselves with their City The murderers now surprized they were condemned to be stoned to death and had the execution of their judgement the rest of the Hippotenses were brought under bondage and made slaves their wals and houses demolished to the earth their fields and possessions being equally distributed betwixt the Thebans and the Corineans It is said that the same night before the surrender of the City that a voice was often heard to call aloud from Helicon Adsum Adsum i. I am here I am here which the thirty suitors affirmed to be the voice of Phocus as likewise the same day of their executions and at the instant when they were stoned saffron was seen to distill out of a monument which was erected in the City Glisantes Phaedus being newly returned from the â—ight a messenger brought him newes of a young daughter that day born whom for omens sake he caused to be called Nicostrate The wives of Cabbas and of Phaiâ—lus A Preposterous thing and almost against nature at least humanity and good manners it is that I read of these two who after the example of Domitian and Commodus those monsters of nature have not only made their strumpets but their own wives either for servile fear or abominable lucre prostitutes to other men This Cabbas a Roman worthy for ever to be branded with base Wittoldrie had a Lady to his wife of incomparable beauty insomuch that all men beholding her apprehended what happinesse he was possessed of above others The report of her rare accomplishments amongst many attracted Mecenas then a great favourite of the Emperor of Augustus to invite himselfe to his house where he was nobly feasted Mecenas being of a corrupt and licentious disposition and much taken with her beauty could not contain himselfe but he must needs be toying with her using action of plain Incontinence in the presence of her husband who perceiving what he went about and the servants it seems for modesty having withdrawn themselvs from forth the chamber the table not yet being taken away Cabbas to give Mecenas the freer liberty casts himselfe upon the bed and counterfeits sleep Whilst this ill-managed businesse was in hand one of the servants listning at the door and hearing no noise but all quiet with soft steps enters the chamber to steal away a flaggon pot that stood full of wine upon the Table Which Cabbas espying casts up his head and thus softly said to him Thou rascall Dost thou not know that I sleep only to Mecenas A basenesse better becomming some Jeaster or Buffoon then the noble name of a Roman In the City of Argis grew a contention betwixt Nicostratus and Phaillus about the management of the Common-weal Philip of Macedon the father of Alexander comming then that way Phaillus having a beautifull young wife one esteemed for the very Paragon of the City and knowing the disposition of the King to be addicted to all voluptuousnesse and that such choice beauties and to be so easily come by could not lightly escape his hands presently apprehends that the prostitution of his wife might be a present Ladder for him to climb to the principality and have the entire government of the City Which Nicostratus suspecting and many times walking before his gates to observe the passage of the house within he might perceive Phaillus fitting his wives feet with rich embroidered Pantoffes jewels about her haire rings on her fingers bracelets about her wrists and carkanets upon her arm in a Macedonian vesture and a covering upon her in the manner of a hat which was onely lawfull for the Kings themselves to wear And in this manner habited like one of the Kings Pages but so disguised that she was scarce known of any he submitted her to the King There are too many in our age that by as base steps would mount to honour I could wish all such to carry the like brand to posterity Chloris was the daughter of Amphion and the wife of Neleus the son of Hyppocoon as fruitfull as beautifull for she brought twelve sonnes to her husband of which ten with their father were slain by Hercules in the expugnation of Pylus the eleventh called Periclemenes was transformed into an Eagle and by that means escaped with life the twelfth was Nestor who was at that time in Ilos He by the benefit of Apollo lived three hundred years for all the daies that were taken from his father and brothers by their untimely death Phoebus conferred upon him and that was the reason of his longevity Aethra the daughter of Pytheus was of that attractive feature that Neptune and Aegeus both lay with her in the Temple of Minerva but Neptune disclaiming her issue bestowed it on Aegeus who leaving her in Troezene and departing for Athens left his sword beneath a huge stone enjoining Aethra That when his son was able to remove the stone and take thence his sword she should then send him to him that by such a token he might acknowledge him his son Theseus was born and comming to years she acquainted him with his fathers imposition who removed the stone and took thence the sword with which he slew all the theeves and robbers that interposed him in his way to Athens Danae the daughter of Acrisius and Aganippe had this fate assigned her by the Oâ—â—cle That the child she bore should be the death of her father Acrisius which he understanding shut her in a bâ—â—zen Tower â—estraining her from the society of men but Jupiter enamoured of her rare feature descended upon her in a shower of Gold of which congression Perseus was begot whom Acrisius caused with his mother to be sent to sea in a mastâ—â—lesse boat which touching upon the Island Seriphus was found by a fisher-man called Dyctis who presents the desolate
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
elements of nature on which the life of mâ—n in our common food most essentially exist Amongst the Indians unlesse both the husband and wife annointed their bodies all over with a certain gum or oile distilling from certain trees growing by the River Phasis the matrimony was not to be allowed The Persians and the Assyrians only joined their right hands in contract so likewise the ancient Germans accounting that the only fiâ—m pledge of their love and loialty Amongst the Galathians in their 〈…〉 the bridegroom drunk to the bride a cup of Greekish wine in other places of milk which she pledged him by this ceremony intending that their nuptials were not only firmly contracted by that mutuall love equall society conjugall loialty marriage concord but like food and diet should alwaies be common betwixt them Alex. ab Alex. lib 2 cap. â— Concerning nuptiall Dowries by some Nations approved by others interdicted Lycurgus and Solon because they would not have the Virgins oppressed by the coverousnesse of men forbad by their Lawes that any man should demand a dower with his wife a necessary and profitable decree by which he was condemned that being a long suitor to the daughter of Pysander and promising her marriage in her fathers life time rependiated the Contract after his death because he dying poor her dower did not answer his expectation Aelian lib. 6. de Var. Histor Amongst the Hetrurians it was held base and ignoble and absolutely forbidden by their inscribed statutes for a man to send tokens or gifts to her whom he affected accounting them no better then bribes or mercenary hire not fit to be thought on in such a sacred commixion where nothing should be meditated save sincere love and conjugall piety The Aegyptians were so opposite to demanding of portions with their wives that they called all such as received them no better then slaves to them and their dowries Now touching bridall gifts and presents It was an ancient custome among the Greeks that the father the day after the solemnization of the marriage sent to the Bride some spousall offerings which they called Epanlia dora they were ushered by a beautiful young lad attired in a long white vesture reaching to his heel bearing in his hand a bright burning taper in order followed after him all such young men and maids youthfully attired that brought the presents one presented Gold another Gems a third a Bason and Ewre with other Plate dishes a fourth Boxes of Alabaster ful of sweet oils and unguents a fift rich Sandals or Slippers with other necessaries belonging as wel to the whole house as to their private bed-chamber Alex. ab Al x. lib. â— cap. 5. Solon to this marriage offering allowed only three sorts of garments for the Bride to bring with her besides such smal gifts as were tendred by the kindred friends and houshold servants A damosel of Lacaena being poor and demanded What Dower she had to bring to her husband and to marry her withâ— answered That which was left me as an inheritance from mine ancestors namely Vertue and Modestly Ingeniously inferring that there is no more commendable Dower to be expected in marriage then chastity and uncorrupt manners The daughters of C. Fabritius Cn. Scipio and Manius Curius because their fathers left them not portions sufficient to bestow them according to their birth and quality had their dowers allotted them from the common treasurie There was a Law among the Romans That no virgins Dower should exceed the sum of ten thousand pieces of silver But after that limitation was taken away and brought to forty thousand and upward Insomuch that Metulia because the Dower of which she possessed her husband amounted to five hundred thousand pieces had a sirname bestowed upon her being ever after called Dotata In ancient times the husbands wooed their Brides with a Ring of Iron without any Stone or Gem but meerly circular and round by that denoting the parsimony of diet and frugality in living Homer the Prince of Poets having no wealth with which to bestow his daughter upon a thrifty Citizen gave her only an Epithalamium with certain Cyprian Elegies for so Pindarus and Aelianus lib. 9. affirm The Carthaginians gave no Portions with their Virgins but were only at the charge of the Nuptiall Feasts which grew to be immoderate and wasteful Amongst the Indians none can claim a greater Dower with his wife then the price of a yoke of Oxen neither can he marry out of his own Tribe The Assyrians brought their noblest Virgins into the market place and their prices there publikely proclaimed by the Cryer whosoever wanted a wife and would reach to the sum propounded might there be furnished and he that had had not ready mony if he could put in good security it was held sufficient The like custome was amongst the Babylonians in which they observed this order They first set out to sale the most ingenuous and beautiful and those at an high rate and when they were put off they brought forth the worser featured even unto the degree of deformity and then the Crier proclaims That who will marry any of them he shall have so much or so much to recompence her foulnesse or lamenesse And this mony which sels them is collected from the overplus of the price of the other so that the beauty of the fair ones helps to bestow and dispose of the foul The Massilienses would not suffer any man to receive with his wife more then an hundred pieces of Gold Amongst the Cretans halfe the brothers estate was conferred upon the sister to make her a Dowrie The ancient Germants when they had made choise of such with whom they meant to marry at their proper charge provided them of Dowries Which custome even to these letter times hath been continued amongst the Celriberians who dwelt in a part of the Pyrenes a Province which his now called Biskay Fulgâ—s lib 2. cap. 1. And with the Dower which he sent he was tied to present her likewise with a Horse bridled a Sword a Target and an Armour with a yoake of Oxen. And these were held to be the most assured pledges of Conjugall love without which no nuptials were legally solemnized Alexand. ab Alex lib. 2. cap. 5. Idem lib. 4 cap 8. Of Nuptiall Ornaments Pomp Feasts Epithalamions c. AMongst the Greeks the Bride was crowned with 〈◊〉 Mints or Cresses her head was kembed with a piece of a Lance or Spear of a Fencer with which some man had been slain it is was called Caelibaris which imported that the new-married Bride should be as can joinedly commixt with her husband in mutuall affection as that spear was inward in the transpâ—erced body when it was drawn from the wâ—â—nd A strange Aenigma it appears to me howsoever it is so recorded Her hair was parted the one way and the other leaving a seem in the middest that her forehead and face might be the plainer discovered Some
he is no sooner dead but they all contend together which of them was of him in his life time best beloved and if it cannot be determined amongst themselves they bring the controversie before the Judges and plead as earnestly to accompany him in death as for some great fortune and honour she amongst the rest that prevails exults with joy as having attained a great victory when being led by her best friends and neerest of kindred partakes with her in the same triumph unto the place where her husbands body is to be consumed with a pleasant and merry countenance she casts her selfe into the fire and is there burned with him together the rest that survive and were deprived of this last honor consume the remainder of their lives in great discontent sorrow and anguish Of this custome Cicero remembers us Tusâ— Quaest lib. 5. Valer. Maxim lib. 2. cap. 1. Alex. aâ— Alex. Alianus Egnatius and others This funerall ceremony as Fulgos lib. 2. cap. 6. is continued amongst them unto this day alluding to this purpose is that of Propert lib. 3. Foelix cöâ—s lex funeris una maritis c. Which I thus paraphrase in English You Eastern Husbands in your funerall Lawes Most happy and their first inventors wise In which you are more famous then because On you the blushing morning first doth rise When Death hath with his last mortiferous wound The Husband struck his last Rites to prepare A pious troop of wives engirt him round Drying their moist cheeks with their scatt'red hair Who strive which shall associate him in fate And bed with him together in the flame To live beyond him is a thing they hate And he once dead life is to them a shame She that can die with him hath her desire And leaps with joy into the funerall fire The like is observed by a people of Thrace that inhabit a little above the Crestonaeans They likewise are delighted with plurality of wives who after the decease of their husbands enter into the like contention as the women of India and she that is Victoresse as if glorying in some great conquest adorned in her best and richest ornaments is with great ceremonious pomp amongst all her kindred and allies conducted unto the place where his body is to be interred where being slaine by her next of Kin as the best office he can do her she is buried in the same grave with her husband Herod lib. 5. The wives amongst the Geates repair to their husbands sepulchre and holding al life tedious and burthensome without them other their bodies willingly either the sword or to the fire The Custome of the Catheoreans was That when the Bride choose her husband she made a covenant with him at his death to be burnt in the same Pile Alex. ab Alex. lib. 1. cap. 25. The women amongst the Herulians a people that inhabit beyond the river of Danubius repair to the graves of their husbands and just over against them strangle themselves Which marriage-love appears the more strange because the men are of that barbarous and inhumane incontinence that they hold it no shame to leave the society of their women and have congression with brute beasts Bonifacius in his Epistle unto King Ethelbalaus as Gaâ—â—elm Masmsbur lib. 1. cap. 64. de Anglia relates it saith That the Winedi are the worst and the most nasty people among the Germans yet their wives are of that incomparable zeâ—i and piety toward their husbands that she is held to be the most laudable and praise-worthy that with her own hand kils her selfe to burn with him to his last funerall fire From the generality of women I descend to particulars Admirable was the love of Phila towards her husband King Demetrius and haughty and magnanimous her spirit who receiving newes of his defeat in battel and that his whole army being dispersed and scattered he was retired into Cassandria drank poison and so died The wife of Straton Prince of Sydonia when the City was straitly besieged by the Persians her greatest care was lest the person of her husband should fall into the hands of the mercilesse enemy which she purposed to prevent by death When therefore she heard they had scaled the wals and were ready to be instantly possest of the Town and seize upon the person of her husband she snatcht from him his sword with which she first slew him and then laying out his body with as much comlinesse as the shortnesse of the time would permit after fell upon the same sword thus by voluntary death preventing the dishonour of captivity Fulgos lib. 4. cap. 6. Fannia the daughter of Arria the younger wife to Poetus Patavinus before remembred in her brave and heroick death with her husband was the spouse of Helvidius Priscus who followed him in all his exile even to his unfortunate and most unjust death she was the third time confin'd from the reign of Tiberius Nero. to the death of Domitian Pliny with infinite praises applauds the incomparable vertues of this Fannia with both the Arrias in Lib. 9. in his Epistle to Quadratus and in his seventh to Genitor and Priscus Triaria was the noble and chast wife of L. Vitellius brother to Aul. Vitellius the Emperor who as Hypsicrataea followed Mithridates in all his combustious wars so she never forsook her husband but was present with him in all those civil dissentions against Vespasian And the night when Vitellius her Lord with a great army of Souldiers invaded and entred the City Terecyna she presented her selfe in the middest of the slaughter not only daring but doing equally with the most valiant killing on all sides till she had hemmed her selfe in with dead bodies slaine by her own hand so bold and magnanimous a spirit had the conjugall love to her husband imprest in her Her memory is made famous by the same Author Antonia Flaxilla by some called Archona when her husband Priscus was found guilty of the Pysonian Faction and for that cause exiled by Nero and when she might have enjoied all the plenty and abundance in Rome left all the pleasures and delights of the City to accompany her desolate Lord in his penurous and uncomfortable banishment Her example Egnatia Maximilla imitated who likewise associated her husband Gallus guilty of the same conspiracy with Priscus Fulgos lib. 6. c. 7. From Jacobus the son of Vsson Cassannus amongst many other Captains that revolted there was one eminent in that rebellion called Pandoerus who had a most beautiful young wife her age exceeded not sixteen years to whom he was ardently and in conjoined love affected He being by her often earnestly entreated to forbeare all conflicts with the enemy but by no means either moved by her tears or perswaded by her intercessions and praiers persisting resolute for a present encounter she then begged of him That before he hazarded himselfe to the extremity of danger he would first take away her fears
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
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
instructing your Tongues I come next to your Attires but having touched it elsewhere I will only speak of the just Taxation luxurious habit or prodigality in Apparell hath been branded with all ages and reproved in all persons especially in such whose garments exceed their estates which argues apparant pride or such as pretend to be meer Fashion mongers pursuing every fantastick and outlandish garb and such may be justly reproved of folly but since they are both so common in our Nation to discover both too plainly I should but contend against custome and seeking to please a few offend many There was a law amongst the Grecians that all such as vainly spent their patrimony either in riotous excesse or prodigality in attire as well women as men were not suffered to be buried in the sepulchers of their fathers Alex. lib. 6. cap. 14. So hatefull was spruceness in habit and effeminacy amongst the Macedonians that Philip the father of Alexander deprived a Nobleman of Terentum of all his Honours and Offices because he but delighted in warm Baths thus reproving him It seems thou art neither acquainted with the customes nor manners of the Macedonians amongst whom thou hast not once heard of a woman though great with child that ever washt but in cold water I see not how that which is so reprovable in men can be any way commendable in women What shall we think then of those affected pleasures now adaies so much in use as Riots Revels Banquet Pride Suâ—fets Vinocity Voracity which as in men I mean being used in excesse they appear oâ—ious so in young Virgins in whom should be nothing but affected modesty in married Wives that ought to be presidents of Chastity and temperate and grave Matrons that should be the patterns and imitable objects of sincere Vertue they cannot but shew abominable The inconvenience of these Excesse Silius Italicus well observed lib. 15 de bello Punici when he thus said Inde aspice late Florentes quondam luxus quas vertitit urbes Quippe nec Ira Deum tantum nec tela c. Thence look abroad and see How many flourishing Cities ruin'd bee Famous of old since neither the Gods Rage The hostile Weapon nor the enemies strage Hath ruin'd Man in that abundant measure As Riot hath mixt with unlawfull pleasure These are the sins that punish themselves who as it is said of Lust carry their own whips at their girdles I was bold in some part of this Work presuming on the goodnesse of your Sex as to say There was no excellent gift in man which was not in some sort paralleld by one woman or other Therefore if any of you have been or are still addicted to these enormities I entreat them but to remember what is writ of Themistocles who in his youth was so wholly given over to all dissolutenesse namely these two excesses Wine and Women that his father banished him his house and his own mother through griefe strangled her selfe Valer. Max lib. 6. cap. 11. But after Miltiades was made Generall and fought that memorable battel at Marathon in which against infinite ods he defeated the Barbarians there was never any thing seen or known in him which was not modest and comely And being demanded how he came so suddenly changed Militia inquit c. The thought of War saith he will admit neither sloth in me nor wantonnesse Plutareh in Grecor Apophtheg Would you but entertein into your thoughts as setled an enmity against all Vices your publique enemies as he did against the Persians the forreign invaders you would undoubtedly after the battel of the mind constantly fought against all barbarous temptations be ranked equall with him in all his triumphs It is likewise recorded of Isaeus an Assyrian Sophist who in his youth being given to all voluptuousnesse and effeminate delicacies but comming to riper underderstanding assumed to himselfe a wondrous continency of life and austerity in all his actions insomuch that a familiar friend of his seeing a beautifull woman passe by and asking him if she were not a fair one To him he answered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. De sii laborare de oculis i. I am no more sick of sore eies To another that demanded What Fish or Fowl was mow pleasant to the taste he replied 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. I have forgot to look after them and proceeded I perceive that I then gathered all my Fruits out of the Garden of Tantalus insinuating unto us that all those vain Pleasures and Delights of which youth is so much enamored are nothing else but shadows and dreams such as Tantalus is said to be fed with Of severall degrees of Inchastities and of their Punishments PHilip of Macedon making war against the Thebans Aeropus and Damasippus two of his chiefe Captains had hired a mercenary strumpet and kept her in one of their tents which the King hearing he not only cashiered them from their commands but banished them his Kingdome Polynaeus lib. 4. In Germany Chastity and Modesty is held in that reverent respect that no mean Artificer though of the basest trade that is will entertein a Bastard into his service or teach him his science neither in the Academies will they permit any such to take degree in schools though it bee a strange severity against innocent children who gave no consent to the sins of their parents yet it is a mean to curb the libeâ—â—ies of men and women deterring them from the like offences Aeneus Silvius lib. 1. of the sayings and dâ—eds of King Alphonsus tels us of one Manes Florentinus who being in forbidden congression with a strumpet was adjudged 〈◊〉 pennance which was not altogether as our custome in England is to stand in a white sheet but naked all save a linnen garment from his wast to the knees after the fashion of Basex the Priests comming to strip him in the Vestrie would have put upon him that robe to cover his shame which he no way would admit but was constantly resolved to stand as our phrase is stark naked but when the Church Officers demanded of him If he were not ashamed to shew his virile parts in such a publique assembly especially where there were so many Virgins marriried Wives and widow Women he answered Minime gentium nam pudenda haec quae peccaverunt ea potissimum dare poenas decet i. By no means quoth he most fit it is that those shamefull things that have offended and brought me to this shame should likewise do open penance Pontius Offidianus a Knight of Rome after he had sound by infallible signs his daughters virginity to be deâ— poiled and vitiated by Fannius Saturnius her School-master was not to content to extend his just rage upon his servant and punish him death but he also slew his daughter who rather desired to celebrate her untimely exequies then follow her to her contaminated Nuptials Val. lib. 6. cap. 1. Pub. Attilius Philiscus notwithstanding in his youth he
was compelled by his master to prostitute his own body to unnaturall lusts for bruitish and unthriving gain yet after proved a severe father for finding his daughter to have corrupted her virginall chastity he slew her with his own hand How sacred then may we imagine and conceive purity and temperance was held in Rome when such as had professed base prostitution in their youth became judges and punishers thereof even upon their own children in their age Val. Max. lib. 6. cap. 1. Appius Claudius Regillanus the most eminent amongst the Decemviri so doted on Virginia the daughter of Virginius a Centurion who was then in the camp at Algidus that he suborned a servant of his to seize her and claim her as his bondwoman and bring the cause to be decided before him needs must the businesse passe on his side beeing both the accuser and the judge The father being certified of these proceedings by Icilius a hopefull young Gentleman before contracted unto her leaving his charge abroad repairs to the City and appearing before the judgement seat sees his own lawfull daughter taken both from himselfe and betrothed husband and conferred upon another as his slave and bondwoman The judgement being past he desires leave to speak with his daughter apart it was granted him by the Court who slew her with his own hand then taking up her body and lifting it upon his shoulders posted with that lamentable burden to the camp and incited the soulders to revenge Livy Volater lib. 14. c. 2. Antropol Quintus Fabius Servilianus having his daughters chastity in suspition first delivered her to death and after punished himselfe with voluntary banishment The punishment of these inchastities is by the Poets to the life illustrated in the fable of Titius the son of Terra who intending to stuprate Laâ—ona was by Apollo slain with an arrow and being thrust down into hell and chained to a rock his Liver and Heart is perpetually tyred on by a ravenous Vulture who still renewes his inceaseable torments Virgil lib. Aeneid 6. under the person of Titius would pourtray unto us the unquiet conscience which though sometimes it may be at a seeming peace yet the torment by being still renewed daily increaseth and gnawes the heartstrings of all such persons as to themselves are guilty Of Witches and the Punishment due to to them VIncentius cites this following History from Guillerimus in Specul Histor lib. 26. cap. 26. which also Johannes Wyerius Ranulphus and others commemorates an English woman that dwelt at a Town called Barkley in England being a Wircht yet not being much suspected lived in indifferent good opinion amongst her neighbors and being feasting upon a time abroad and wondrous pleasant in company she had a tame crow which she had brought up that would be familiar with her and sit upon her shoulder and prate to her in the best language it could she at this feast the table being ready to be drawn sported with her which spake to her more plainly then it used some words which she better then the rest of the company understood at which suddenly her knife dropped out of her hand her colour changed the blood forsook her cheeks and she looked pale ready to sink down and fetching some inward suspites and grones she at length broke forth into this language Woe is me my plow is now entred into the last furrow for this day I shall hear of some great losse which I must forcibly suffer The rest wondring at her sudden change from mirth to passion next at her alteration of look and lastly at her mystical language when her words were scarce ended but a messenger rushed hastily into the room and told her that her eldest son with all the whole family at home were sound suddenly dead which she no sooner heard but overcome with sorrow she fainted and being recovered and conducted to her own house she took her bed and presently caused the only two children she had living to be sent for the one a Monk the other a Nun who presently came to visit her and know her pleasure to whom with a pensive and distracted heart the tears running from her eies she thus spake Alas my children be hold me your mother and commiserate my wretchâ—◠〈…〉 distressed estate whose fate hath been so 〈…〉 disastrous that I have hitherto been a wicked 〈◊〉 diabolicall Witchcraft having been a mistresse of that 〈…〉 and a great perswader to those abominations now 〈◊〉 refuge I have to flie to is your religions zeal and 〈…〉 this despair for now is the time that the Devils will exact their due Those that perswaded me to this mischiefe are ready to demand their Covenant Therefore by a motherâ— love I charge you and by your filiall duty I conjure you since the Sentence of my Souls perdition is irrevocable that you will use your best endeavour and industry for the preservation of my Body This therefore I enjoin you instead of a winding sheet 〈◊〉 my body in the skin of a Hart or Bucks Leather then put me in a Coffin of Stone which cover with Lead and after bind it with Hoops 〈◊〉 Bars of Iron to which fasten three strong Chains If my Body thus coffin'd lye three daies quiet bury me the fourth day though I fear the Earth for my manifold Blasphemies will scarce give enterteinment to my Body For the first two nights together let there be fifty Psalms sung for me and as many Masses for so many daies which said she gave up her last breath She dead the brother and sister were careful to perform the mothers last Will and did all things accordingly The first two nights when the Quires of Church-men sung Psalms about the Body the Devils with much ease broke open the Church doors which were bâ—lted barr'd lockt and propt and broke two of the Chains by which the Coffin was fastned but the third remained stedfast The third night â—bout the time when the Cock begins to crow the foundation of the Temple seemed to shake with the noise of the Devils who â—lamored at the door one of the rest taller in stature and more terrible in countenance then his fellowes knocked with more violence then those which attended him till he had broken the doors to shivers when stalking to the Coffin he called the woman by her name aloud and bad her arise and follow him to whom the dead body answered I cannot for these Chains To whom he answered Those shall be loosed to thy mischiefe when tearing them asunder as they had been links made of rushes he snâ—tched up the Coffin and carried it to the Church door where stood ready a black Sumpter-horse loudly neighing whose hoofs were divided like Eagles tallons upon which he laid the body burried it away with seeming joy whilst all the Quiâ—â—sters looked on and so vanished Her shriâ—ks and 〈◊〉 were heard four miles off Let this one suffice for many I come now to temporall punishments The