whose example Pallas soone puts on A Beldams shape transports her selfe anon To Ariachne who with her compares And hauing after strife wrought sundry chares Pallas transhapes her to a spider leauing Her antient Art to take delight in weauing This mooues not Niobe who late had lost Her children and in diuerse turmoyles tost Is chang'd to stone Now when the people knew This portent they the memorie renew Of the base Lysian rustickes turnd to Frogges And by Diana doom'd to liue in bogges They Marsias likewise can remember still Who ranks his musicke with Apolloes quill But he that 'gainst the gods sought praise to winne In this contention lost both lawd and skinne When all the neighbouring citties came to cheere Distressed Thebes the Athenians absent were And to their sorrowes can no comfort bring Being at home awde by a tyrant king Tereus who the faire Philomel ' deflowring Turnes to a Lapwing in the ayre still towring As Philomel ' into a Nightingale And Progne to a Swallow This sad tale Vnto Pandion told he dyes with griefe In whose sad king dome next succeedes as chiefe Ericteus Orithea the faire His daughter Boreas to his kingdome bare Of her he Calain and Zethus got Amongst the Argonauts these tooke their lot There Iason the whitâ— teeth off serpents sew Of which men arm'd in compleat harnesse grew The waking dragon made to sleepe the Fleece Of gold from Phasis after brought to Greece Medea he beares thence She by her art Makes young old Aeson promising to impart Like good to Peleus to his daughters showing From a decrepit Ram a young lambe growing But slew him by her fraud Transported thence She with Aegeus makes her residence Against whom Minos wars hauing collected Men from all places by his skill directed As some from Paros which long time before Arne betrayd for which she euer wâ—re The shape of Daw. King Aeacus supplyes With Mirmidons that did from pismires rise King Minos Cephalus these forces led Who seeing to adulterat his owne bed Preuailes with Procris whil'st his dogges in chace Of a wild fox both in the selfe same place Are chang'd to stoneâ— Minos Alchathoe woone Nisus and Scilla are in shape foredoone He to a Hawke she to a Larke is shifted And through the aire with their light feather lifted Thence he returnes to Creete all sad and dull Where liu'd the Minotaure halfe Man halfe Bull Him Theseus slew and after doth beguile Faire Ariadne left in Naxos Isle With her god Bacchus enters amorous warres And placeth on her head a crowne of starres Young Icarus with his old father flies And downe into the sea drops from the skies His death whil'st Daedalus laments his sees The Partridge new transformed Now by degrees Theseus winnes fame scarce spoken of before Being cal'd to hunt the Calidonian Boore Which Meleager slew and died by th' hand Of his owne mother in the fatall brand His sisters with loud shreekes his death proclaime Being all chang'd into birds that beare his name He visits Achelous in his way And all these Islands that but th' other day Were Nymphes and Naides which appeared true Since the like transformation Lelex knew In Baucis and Philemon whom he sees Growing before him in the shape of trees Their cottage made a Temple for their sakes The village where they dwelt all standing lakes Achelous addes to these the transformations Of Proteus and of Mestra with the fashions That he himselfe appeared in when he prou'd His strength 'gainst Hercules both deerely lou'd Faire Deianeira who hauing vnderstood Her husbands scapes dipt in the Centaures blood A fatall shirt Alcides doth expire Being after made a starre Lychas her squire Is sixt a sea-rocke whil'st Alcmena hyes To Iole and as they two deuise She tells her of Galantis before made A monstrous Weasill th' other showes the glâ—de In which at that time shee might growing see Her elder sister now growne to a tree To them comes Iolaus in the way Made young by Hebeâ— Ioue himselfe can say And instance Aeacus this to be true From him Miletus fled and thence withdrew Himselfe to Asia from whom descended Caunus and Biblis whose not loue extended To her owne brother as the stories tell And weeping was desolu'd into a well This had appear'd more strange were it not knowne Young Iphis on her marriage day was growne To be a complâ—at man these nuptialls saw Hymen and thence he doth himselfe withdraw To Orpheus spousalls but his bright robes di'd In funerall blacke Euridice the bride Expires vpon her marriage day being stung In th' anckle by a snake when Orpheus sung His various transformations to the Lyre The trees to heare him from all parts desire Amongst whom came the Cypresse and the Vine The one clasp's Cyparissus in her twine The other Atis euerie Thrasian fro That in his death had hand besides them grow And are made trees Bacchus departs from Thrace And because Midas gaue Silenus place With entertainments due to quittance this He guerdons Midas with his golden wish Who after wearied with his rauishing dreames Was made to wash him in Pactolus streames They since that time their golden tincture keepe Still glistring when the Sunne shines on the deepe Pans musicke and Apollos Midas heares And by false sentence gaines him Asses eares Phoebus this done an humane shape puts on And build's Troyes wals to be excel'd by none This cittie great Alcides hauing rac't With Pirams sister he the valor grac't Of Aiax Telamon who in these bralls Was first set foot vpon the Dardan walls Peleus wedds Thetis though against her will For though she by her godhead had the skill To shift in sundrie shapes yet was comprest And Peleus lodg'd vpon her yuorie brest To Ceix he past thence one of his blood Where he part saw and partly vnderstood Dedalion take on him a goshawkes shape And Woolfe made stone that flying thought to scape Soone after this Alcinoe in her bed Dreaming she saw her lord shipwrecks and dead And from the shore his liuelesse bodie floting Both were made birds which some spectators noting Straight call to mind how Aesacus before Was chang'd into a Sea-gull him deplore Priam and all his sonnes as lost and dead Excepting Paris who to Greece was sped And brought thence Hellen him the Greekâ—s pursue At Aulis Gulfe they anchor where in view Of the whole fleet a Dragon they espie Obdur'd to stone To Troy-ward thence they hye Where Cygnus on whose skinne no steele could bite Was by the great Achilles bruis'd in fight And at the instant made a siluer Swan So Coenis once a woman now a man Was after likewise to a bird conuerted This tale'mongst others Nestor had inserted Periclimenes change to her repeates Neptune meane time the other gods intreates About Achilles death being much offended At his late losse he dead Aiax contended With slye Vlysses for his armes and shield Aiax disgrac't expires and in
out of the roome if they were then present the twelue Apostles The Iudges by this vnderstanding that his contempt onely proceeded from the excesse of wine dismist him vnpunished and vpon the Priest that had first inuited him and after accused him they layd this Penance That hee should taste no wine for foure whole dayes together Old Ennius notwithstanding these effects neuer buckled himselfe to the writing of any braue Heroicke Verse before his braine was moistened and his Muse kindled and awaked with the spirit of the Grape of whom Horace Ennius ipse pater nunquam nisi potus ad arma Profituit c. They need no further explanation the former words expresse them fully Tiberius was so addicted to immoderate cups that being in the campe the souldiers vsed to nick-name him and in stead of Clodius called him Caldus for Tiberius Biberius and for Nero Mero all of them reproouing his intemperate Vinositie Iuuenal in his Satyrs reports one Lanfella a woman for an incontinent wine-bibber Martial taxes another called Myrtale for her insatiate drinking but because her breath should not smell of the Grape shee vsed to temper her wine with the leaues of Lawrell His words be these Foetore multo Myrtale solet vino Sed fallat vt nos solia deâ—orat Lauri Myrtale drinkes much wine which to excuse Least that her breath thereof should stinke and smell To deceiue vs she in her cups doth vse To haue her wine with Lawrell temp'red well The like Epigram he hath Lib. 1. of another called Fescenina a great drinker of wine whom hee brands for her intemperance In so great a custome was this rioting in drinke growne that when the great and sumptuous Espousals of Hyppolita and Alphonsus were celebrated by king Ferdinand his father where euerie thing was carryed with extraordinarie magnificence and state as well the Martiall Exercises abroad as the Maskes Reuels and priuate sports within which extended not onely to condigne praise but admiration of all the spectators and all these Pastimes Feasts and Banquets kept to the end with great plentie and abundance yet without vaine excesse and superfluitie In the shutting vp of all these solemnities one amidst the multitude by Nation a German clamoured out aloud euen to the hearing of the King and all his Princely guests in these words Oh valeant ludi quibus nemo bibit i. Happie be those sports in which there is no excesse in drinking Pontanus And thus for the present I giue ouer Healthing Of Women beloued of diuerse Creatures EGesidemus vpon Plinie tells vs That the child Hermias was so beloued of a Dolphin that she would come to the Sea-shore and suffer him to get vpon her backe then swimme with him into the Sea and hauing sported with him sufficiently bring him safe to Land and then attend him the next day It happened that hauing long continued this loue betwixt them vpon a time being mounted on the Dolphins backe a suddaine tempest arose by the violence of which the Lad was beaten off and so perished in the Sea Which the Dolphin perceiuing and hauing lost him whom she so much loued she left the Water and casting her selfe vpon the drie Continent there gaue her selfe vp to a voluntarie death Of the loue of that kind of Fish to men and children there are diuerse remembrances as of Arion and others In Argis the child Olenus was affected by a Goose so likewise Lycidas the Philosopher who would neuer depart from him nor be driuen out of his companie but was his continuall associate in publique and priuate in the Bath in the Night the Day without any intermission Plin. Lib. 10. cap. 22. Glauce the Harper was beloued of a Ramme a youth of Sparta by a Daw. Nicander apud Caelium witnesseth That one Selandus the Butler to the king of Bithinia was beloued of a Cocke whom they called Centaurus A Cocke doted likewise on a young Lad whose name was Amphilochus by Nation an Olenian Why may wee not then as well giue credite that Semiramis was affected by a Horse and Pasiphae by a Bull when Plinie tells vs That in Leucadia a young Damosell was so beloued of a Peacocke that the enamored Bird neuer left her in life and accompanied her in death for seeing the Virgin dead shee neuer would receiue food from any hand but so pyned away and dyed also In the citie of Sestos a young Eagle taken in a neast was carefully brought vp by a Virgin The Bird beeing come to full growth would euerie day take her flight abroad and all such fowle as shee could catch bring home and lay them in the Lappe of her mistresse And this shee vsed dayly as it were to recompence her for her fostering and bringing vp At length this Virgin dying and her bodie beeing borne vnto the Funerall fire the Eagle still attended which was no sooner exposed vnto the flames but the Bird likewise cast her selfe with a voluntarie flight amidst the new-kindled pyle and to her mistresses Hearse gaue her selfe a most gratefull sacrifice Plinie lib. 10. cap. 5. Saxo Grammat in the tenth booke of his Danish Historie reports That certaine young maides of a Village in Swetheland playing and sporting together in the fields vpon a holy-day suddainely an huge hee-Beare rushed out of the forrest and snatched vp the fairest amongst them and hurryed her away to his Denne but gently and without any harme where hauing bestowed her long gazed on her face as if with a kind of admiration he grew so enamored of her on the suddaine that in the stead of a murtherer he became a louer imparting vnto her all the prey that he got abroad The sequele of this Historie which is almost past beleefe I am loth for many speciall reasons to prosecute any further here therefore though abruptly I breake it off Of Women excellent in the Art of Painting Weauing c. INnumerable are the men that haue been excellent in the qualitie of Painting the Catalogue of their Names without a Capitulation of their Workes would aske much Paper but greater paines to set downe Yet as of the rest I will giue you a small taste of their exquisite dexteritie in that Art I haue read That Apelles hauing made an excellent Piece in which he had deciphered a Horse to the life he thought it then a Present worthie Alexander and comming to present it to the king hee onely gaue it a neglected looke neither praysing it nor discommending it but found other discourse The Painter still holding it vp Bucephalus on whom the king was then mounted casting his eye vpon the Table fell a neighing thinking the liuely effigies had beene a liuing Beast Which Apelles obseruing could no longer containe himselfe but cryed out aloud O Alexander I now well perceiue thy Horse hath better iudgement in Painting than thy selfe Zeuxes being almost with him equally famous Apelles maligning that any Painter should be named whilest
accordingly done and she appeared before him all stayned and sprinkled with blood for she had not yet changed her habite at which hee grew at the first amased demaunding the cause of her repaire thither She desired her seruant might be likewise admitted who attended at the doore of his Tent for hee had that about him by which he should be better informed His entrance was graunted but being suspected by the guard because they perceiued him hide something folded vp in his garments they searcht him and found a head cut off but by reason of the palenesse of the face which was disfigured with the clottered and congealed bloud the countenance thereof could hardly be discerned The seruant was brought in with the head still dropping blood in his hand At which the king more wondering desired by her to be better certified concerning the Nouell to whom she boldly replyed Loe here ô Alexander the end of thy many troubles and feares the head of the great Captaine Spitamenes who though my husband yet because hee was thine enemie I haue caused his head to be cut off and here present it vnto thee At the horridenesse of these words the king with all that stood by were abashed euerie one glad of the thing done but in their hearts detesting the manner of the deed The Ladie still expecting an answer Alexander after some pawse thus replyed I must confesse Ladie the great courtesie and infinite benefit receiued from you in presenting me the head of an Out-Law a Traytor and one that was to mee a great obstacle and an hinderance in the smooth passage to my intended Victories but when I vnderstand it to be done by the hands of a woman nay a wife the strange horridenesse of the fact takes away all the thankes and reward due to the benefit I therefore command you instantly to depart the Campe and that with all speed possible for I would not haue the sauage and inhumane examples of the Barbarians contaminate and infect the mild and soft temper of the noble Grecians With which words she was instantly hurried from his presence As noble a president of Iustice in a Prince as it was an abhorred example of crueltie in a most vnnaturall wife Q. Curt. lib. 8. de Alexandri Histor. From a remorselesse wife I come now to as obdurate a step-mother Pelops hauing married Hyppodamia the daughter of Tantalus and Eurianassa had by her two sonnes Thiestes and Atreus and by the Nymph Danais a third sonne called Crisippus to which he seemed outwardly better affected than 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 sonnes by Hyppodamia made warre vpon Laius tooke him prisoner and recouered Crisippus and when hee truly vnderstood that loue was the cause of his rape hee was attoned with Laius and an inuiolable league of amitie combined betwixt them Whilest the Theban yet soiourned with Pelops Hyppodamia persuaded with Atreus and Thiestes to conspire against the life of Crisippus as one that aymed at the succession in the kingdome but not preuayling she meditated with her selfe how to despoyle him of life with her owne hands when hauing conueyed 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 leauing the sword still in his bodie and left the place vndiscouered accusing the Theban for his death but the youth not fully dead recouered so much spirit as to discouer the murtheresse for which king Laius was acquitted and she from her husband receiued condigne punishment for her immanitie and murther Dosythaeus in Pelopedis Progne to reuenge the rape of her sister Philomela vpon her husband Tereus king of Thrace feasted him with the bodie of his owne sonne Itis of which you may read at large in Ouids Metamorphosis Some women haue beene so vnnaturall as to betray their fathers After Troy was vtterly subuerted and despoyled king Diomede one of the most valiant amongst the kings of Greece in the returne towards his countrey being by stormes and tempests violently cast vpon the coast of Thrace where Lycas the sonne of Mars then reigned and according to the bloodie custome of the countrey sacrificed all such strangers as landed vpon his Continent his daughter Callirhoe surprised with the loue of king Diomede not onely released him from durance but betrayed the life of Lycus her father into his hands notwithstanding hee most trecherously left her for which ingratitude and vrged with remorse of conscience for proouing so vnnaturall vnto him from whom she had her being by strangling her selfe shee despairingly expired Iuba lib. 3. Libicorum Paralleld with this is that which wee reade of Calphurnius 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 surprised in the siege thereof and reserued the next day to be sacrificed to Saturne being in despaire either of rescue or life Besalia daughter to the king who was then possest of the Port falling in loue with Calphurnius not onely deliuered vp vnto him the keyes of the Castle that hee might freely escape with life but betrayed vnto him the libertie and life of her father but after being most degenerately forsaken by him she desperately slew her selfe Hegesinax lib. 3. rerum Africarum I am wearie with setting downe these immanities in women and Polihimnia now inuites me to a new argument Of Women strangely preserued from death and such as haue vnwillingly beene the death of their Fathers NIceas Maleotes as Plutarch in his thirteenth Paralell testates reports That when Hercules for the loue of Iole the daughter of Cacus inuaded Oechalia and shee abhorring the embraces of him who had before slaine her father retyred herselfe for safetie into the strongest Cittadell in her countrey in which beeing straightly besieged by Hercules and the Fort readie to be surprised taken she hauing no way to escape and vnwilling to stand to the mercie of so louing an enemie mounted vp into the highest Turret of the Castle and from thence cast her selfe headlong downe towards the Earth but the wind gathering vnder her loose garments so extenuated the fall that she came to the ground without any hurt at all by which miraculous fortune shee inioyed a desperate life and Hercules a most desired mistresse Answerable vnto this is that which Theophilus Italicorum tertio relates The Romans in the Etrurian warre instituted Valerius Torquatus Generall of their forces hee hauing beheld Clusia the daughter of the Tuscan king grew innamoured of the Virgin◠and sent Embassadors to demaund her of her father but shee not willing to make any contract with her countries enemie and her father as loth to contradict his daughter the motion and offer of Torquatus was peremptorily denied at which inraged hee begyrt
to Vrania and from Memorie we are drawne vp to Heauen for the best remembrancers as Pliny saith comprehend the whole world or vniuerse in which the heauens are included and all the secrets therein as much as by inuestigation can be attaind to haue the full and perfect knowledge for the most secret and hidden things are contained in the Heauens aboue and therefore such as are expert in them cannot be ignorant of these lesse and more easie to be apprehended below Plutarch of Vrania thus speakes Plato as by their steppes hath trac'd all the gods thinking to find out their faculties by their names By the same reason we place one of the Muses in the Heauens and about coelestiall things which is Vrania for that which is aboue hath no need of diuersitie of gouernment hauing one vniuersall directresse which is Nature where therfore there be many errors excesses transgresses there the eight remaining are to be transmitted and one particular Muse still reserued one to correct this fault and another that Vrania therefore according to Plutarch hath predominance in things coelestiall which by how much they are aboue things terrestriall in excellence they are so much the more difficult Some stretch the influence of the starres to Zoriasta's magicke in which he was popularlie famous nay more his name by that art enobled notwithstanding the annalls testifie that he was subdued and slaine in battell by Ninus Pompey the great was curiouslie addicted to these diuinations yet his potencie fayl'd him and he dyed a wretched death in Aegypt Howbeit by these instances it is not to be inferred as the mysticallest and powerfull part of the Mathematicall desciplines The inuentions of Manilius most indirectlie conferres it vpon Mercury Plato in Epinomide would haue all that contemplate Astrologie to begin in their youth such is the excellencie of the art and the difficultie to attaine vnto it for these be his words Be not ignorant that Astrologie is a most wise secret for it is necessarie that the true Astronomer be not that man according to Hesiod that shall onelie consider the rising and setting of the starres but rather that hath a full inspection into the eight compasses or circumferences and how the seauen are turned by the first and in what order euery starre mooues in his owne spheare or circle in which he shall not find any thing which is not miraculous If therefore the prayse of Astronomy be so great What encomium then is Vrania worthy who first illustrated the art This onelie shal suffice that by her is meant coelestiall Astrologie so cald of the Heauen for as Pharnutus saith The intire vniverse the ancients cald by the name of Heauen So by this meanes Vrania is acknowledged to be frequent in all sciences below and speculations aboue whatsoeuer Her Etimologie importing Sublimia spectantem that is Beholding things sublime and high Of her Ouid thus Incipit Vrania fecere silentia cunctae Et vox audiri nulla nisi illa potest Vrania first began to speake The rest themselues prepar'd To heare with silence for but hers No voyce could then be heard She is then receiued from the Heauen either because all nations and languages beneath the firmament haue some learned amongst them or that such as are furnisht with knowledge she seemes to attract and carry vpwards or to conclude because glorie and wisedome eleuate and erect the mind to the contemplation of things heauenlie Fulgentius saith That some of the Greeke authours haue left written that Linus was the son of Vrania but it is elsewhere found that she was called Vrania of her father Vranus otherwise stil'd Caelum whom his sonne Saturne after dismembred Xenophon in Sympos remembers that Venus was called Vrania speaking also of Pandemius of both their Temples and Altars the sacrifices to Pandemius were called Radiouorgaraera those to Venus Agnotaera Some as Lactantius Placidas call Heleneuae that menacing star Vrania In a word that coelestiall Muse called Astrologia or Vrania intimates nothing else than after mature iudgement to deliberate what to speake what to despise to make election of what is vsefull and profitable and to cast off what is friuolous and impertinent is the adiunct of a mind coelestial and a wisedome inculpable Most true therefore is the sentence of Plato who tells vs that Vrania is she that first attracts the eyes of our mind to sublime things aboue and if it were possible would drawe our selues after CALLIOPE THere are two things in the mind chieflie predominant Knowledge and Disposition which as Plato saith are in continuall and restlesse motion Knowledge which by the Sophists vnder a colour of truth is abused with things false and erroneous and Disposition or Affection which tempted by the popular Poets vnder a bait of delight and pleasure swallowes the hooke of many perturbations and distractions those Orators that are meerelie superficiall and not seene in the grounds of wisedome corrupted with idle and vaine reasons they delude the knowledge and with vnnecessarie curiosities precipitate the affection From Sophists we must altogether beware as pestiferous and infectious from Poets and Orators in some kinds but not in all cases Plato confineth Sophisters euery where and from all places and Poets too but not all such onelie as comment false and scandalous tales of the gods nor these from all places but from the citties onelie that is from the societie of young men and such as are ignorant prone to perturbation and not capable of the allegoricall sence included admitting onely such as speake well of the gods sing diuine Hymnes and brauelie register the acts of noble and illustrious persons Such is the practise that Calliope teacheth her Poets which practise as Ficinus witnesseth is nothing but the rapture of the soule with a transmigration into the maiestie of the Muses This Poesie rouseth vs from the sleepe of the body to the awaking of the mind from the darkenesse of ignorance to the light of knowledge from death to life and from dull obliuion to a contemplation diuine and heauenlie But where the wit failes there is no helpe to be expected from the inuention for it is not within the compasse of mans capacitie to compasse deepe and great matters in a moment for all knowledge is inspired from aboue And since Poetrie comes not by fortune nor can be attained to by art it must consequentlie be a gift from the gods and Muses For when Plato names the god he intends Appollo when the Muses he vnderstands the soules of the spheares for Iupiter is the mind of the deitie who extasies and illuminates Appollo Appollo the Muses the Muses the Poets the Poets inspire their interpreters the interpreters make impression in the Auditours By diuerse Muses diuers soules are enlightned as it is in Tymaeus that sundry soules are attributed to sundry spheares The Muse Calliope is a voyce resulting or rebounding from the sound of the other spheares and of the rest the most excellent
vpon all those Tragedies which he aym'd to execute vpon mankind he instituted his Enthusiastae and his Pytheâ—â— Oracles which were in vse almost amongst all nations in so much that their superstitions and prophanations had crept in amongst the people of god so that Moyses made a law that all such as repayred to these iugling sorcerists should be stoned to death Amongst these are counted some of the Sibells though not all as hirelings of the diuell for the conseruation and confirmation of his kingdome for out of their bookes the Romans were drawne into many lunacies and frenzies as besides many other it is manifest in Zozimus who recites many of their verses full of tradition and superstitions meerelie vnlawfull though the two Sibells Erythraea and Cumana in heroicke poems prophesied of Christ and sung and declared his prayses which as some coniecture they did by the sight of the prophesies of Esaias and Dauid These oracles lasted to the comming of our Sauiour but then surceast through all the parts of the world There were also a kind of sorcerists which some call Leâ—â—res the word importing the spirits and ghosts of such as perÌ„isht before their times or abortiuelie for from such they fathered their predictions and prophesies Of this kind there were many in Germany as Wyerius relates who were of long continuance and such were called Albae mulieres or the white women which in their moderne tongue implies as much as the white Sybells and this sort of people was ominous to women with child and to infants sucking at their mothers breasts and in their cradles These though in times of old they were most frequent and common when the world attributed too much to the iugling illusions of the deuill yet since the Sauiour of the world and our onelie patron hath supplanted him by the more pure and feruent preaching of the Gospell these mockeries and fallacies by which he cheated the vnlettered multitude of their faith and god of his honour are meerelie adnichilated in so much there is scarce left to posteritie the least memorie of their wicked traditions Of such as these it seems S. Hierom took especiall notice when in an epistle writ to Paula vpon the death of Blesilla he thus speakes Quae causa est vt saepe Dimuli Trimuli vbera lactantes c. i. What is the reason that children of two and three yeares of age and such as sucke at the breast should be corrupted by deuils The Ethnicks custome was to giue names to such according to the diuersitie of their actions there were some called Hecataea as sent from Hecate others by the Italians Tolleâ—ae or Empedusae But this may appeare a digression from our Sybills therefore I thus proceede with them Petrus Crinitus in his twentieth booke De honesta disciplina speaking of the Sybells the Branchi and the Delphick prophetesses alleadges Gallius Firâ—â—anus Hieronimus and other antient writers extracting from their opinions which way and by what means these oracles were imagined to be possest with the spirit of diuination These of that order as Plato and Iamblicus haue learnedlie related either from the gods or spirits say they are inspired with that illumination by which they discerne the fundamentall causes of things and can presage and foresee such euents as shall succeede Iamblic in his booke to Porphirius saith thus The Sybell of Delphos two seuerall wayes conceiues the spirit by which shee prophesies either by a soft breath or else by fire proceeding from the mouth of a certain den or caue before the entrance of which she seates her selfe vpon a three-footed or foure-footed stoole of brasse in which place the diuine power either by whispering in her care or by some other infused blast inspired into her giues her the facilitie of vttering her predictions The Branchae sitting vpon an axeltree held in her hand a wand consecrated to some deitie or other and either washt her selfe in some sacred fountaine or receiued some influence from the vapour of fire and by this means were made repleate with diuine splendour These Branchae deriue themselues from Branchus the sonne of Apollo vpon whom his father bestowed the gift of diuination to which Statius assents so Strabo in these verses makes him a Priest of the Temple of Apollo Phebus from Branchus axeltree His Prophet did inspire Who with a thousand Ambages Hath set the world on fire Colephonius Zenophanes hath denyed that there can be any diuination at all but Democritus hath approoued it of the same argument Chrysippus hath wriâ— two bookes one of Oracles another of Dreames Diogines Babilonius publishe one De diuinatione Antipater two Possidonius fiue Panaetius the scholler of Antipater doubted whether there were any beleefe at all to be giuen to that art or no. Cicero is of opinion that it hath onelie power ouer such things as happen accidentallie or by chance Of diuination there be two sorts one of art as by the entrails of beasts or by casting of lots the other of nature as by dreames and visions in both the coniectures made by vaticinations aime at more than they can accomplish and intend further than they can proceede Further this art is by the Greekes called Mantices that is the knowledge of things to come the first inuenters thereof were the Aegyptians and Chaldaeans by their obseruations of the starres The nations of the Cilici the Pysidauri and the inhabitants of Pamphilia neere vnto these predicted by the singing and flights of birds The Magi among the Persians had many assemblies of purpose onely to augurate and to diuine but all such are condemned of ignorance and want of art who presage meerely by concitation and rapture without the helpe of reason and coniecture Sagire signifies to perceiue acutely or sharpely therefore they are called Sagaces that know much he that is sayd Sagire viz. to know before things come to passe is sayd Presagire that is to presage It is called Diuination when it extends to a higher degree of prediction But when by diuine instinct as in the Sibells the minde is as it were transported and extaside in rapture it is then called Furâ—r or furie Amongst the Ligurians a people of Thrace it was aâ—custome for their Priests before they would demaâ—nd any thing from the Oracle to glut and gorge themselues with superfluous excesse of wine The Clarij contrarie to these in their superstitions vsed to quaffe great quantitie of water The Diuination that was made by water was called Hydromantia That which was made by an Axe or Hatchet was stiled Axinomantia That which was made by a Skin in which water was moued too and fro from whence a soft and gentle voice of presage was heard to breath was called Leâ—â—â—omantia That which did consist of certaine points and markes fixed in the Earth Geomantia That which was gathered from Figures and imaginarie shapes shining in the fire Pyromantia The Diuination by smoke was called Capnomantia That which
with great bribes and rewards corrupts Somnus that hee would amongst the rest charme the eyes of Iupiter which hee attempting and the other perceiuing the inraged god feeling Sleepe to steale vpon him vnawares cast him headlong from heauen into the sea where hee had doubtlesse for euer perisht had not Night snacht vp her sonne and in her darknesse hid him from the wrath of Iupiter But had he beeene destroyed Sleepe had bin exiled the Earth and so all creatures depriued of their quotidian rest From hence likewise may be collected how wretched those sleeping gods are when Iupiter the onely wise and potent is euer awake to see prouide foresee and gouerne by his infinite prouidence both men and creatures The citie of Sleep Lucianâ—â— in his second booke Verarum Historiarum though fabulously yet hath facundiously described This cittie sayth he is scituate in â— most spatious and silent plaine yet round incompast with tall and spreading trees amongst whose leaues the wind onely whispers but neuer robustiously blowes There Poppy growes aboundantly Mandragora and all such plants hearbes and simples as haue the innate vertue to procure and prouoke sleepe There are multitudes of Battes which flie continually this way and that and betwixt one tree and another great store of Night-rauens Owles and Screechowles no bird that is ashamed of day but is here frequently to be found But neither the crowing Cocke the chattering Pie the quacking Duck the gagling Goose nor any other fowle either of song or clamor can thither haue accesse Fast by this citie glydes a riuer with a slow silent pace making a murmure but no noyse rather to rocke and lull asleepe than to waken the water is thicke and soft like oyle the floods name is Lethe whom others call Nictyporus it flowes from two fountaine heads both hid and obscured in places to no man knowne the one is called Pannychius the other Negretas This citie hath two ports or gates one of home composed with miraculous workemanship in which as in a table are expressed all such true dreames as exercise the fantasies of men in their depth of rest The other is made of the most purest and most white yuorie in which are carued all sorts of dreames but these as it were artificially shaddowed by the pensell but none fully drawne and exprest to the life Within this cities walls is a magnificent and spatious structure called the Temple of Nighâ— which with all superstitious ceremonies is religiously honored there is a second instituted to the goddesse Apales and a third to Alethia in both which there are Oracles The sole inhabitants of this place are an infinite companie but not a cittisen in shape or fauour one like another some are leane lancke and little with crooked legges and hutch-backes rather like monsters than men others are comely well featured tall and proper with cheerefull faces and promising lookes some are of a froward and terrible aspect as if they threatned mischiefe and disaster others portly gallant and regally habited and whosoeuer shall enter the gates of this cittie some domesticke dreame or other continually will encounter him and giue him a familiar and friendly salute in the shape of some one of these formerly rehearsed relating to him some sad things some pleasant things to minister content or distast somtimes they whisper truthes but that sildome for the greatest part of that multitude are lying and deceitfull because for the most part they speake one thing and intend another and thus far Lucianus of the house of Sleepe I had once occasion to write my selfe in this manner Neare to the darke Cimerians lies a caue Beneath the foote of a declining hill Deepe in the earthes warme intrailes like a graue Where charming Silence makes all husht and still Hither did neuer piercing Sunne beame craue Admittance nor the voice of hunter shrill Fieres through the crannies of this concaue deepe Where stands the dull and leaden house of Sleepe Here the thicke vapoures from the earth exhaild Mystâ— all the place about a doubtfull light 〈◊〉 twixt night and day when 〈◊〉 is faild And the other not yet perfect dulls the sight No wâ—â—efull doggâ— oâ— clamorous cooke hath raild Vpon the drowsie Morne earely to dight The Sunnes steedes Here the bird that faâ—'d of old Romes Capitoll is neuer heard to scould The brawlling Crane nor yet the prating Crowe Or tatling Parret to desturbe the eare No bestowing Bull swift Hart or Asse more flow Is heard to bray wee haue all silence here Only a murmuring riuer which doth flow From Lethe with his streames 'mongst peables cleere Lulls the dull sence to soft and feathered rest Charming the cares and sorrowes in the brest Before the gate the drowsie Poppie springs With thousand plants and simples without number Not one but to the braine a numnesse brings Inâ—iting all the powers of man to slumber Whose milkie iuice the Night on her blacke wings Beares t'wart the earth and scatters Who dares cumber This vniuersall whistnesse where none come But Taciturnitie and Silence dâ—mbe Vpon the doore no ratling hammers stroke Is heard without to startle those within No creeking hinge by which soft sleepe is broke Than to speake loude ther 's held no greater sinne Midst a vast roome a bed Hewd out of Oke That had of late some antient relique bin Fring'd with thick dust and lasie cobwebs stands Not in an age once stird with carefull hands Vpon this easie couch with curtaines hung Of duskie coloured silke you may behould The god of Sleepe in carelesse fashion flung Stretching his drousie limbes whom now 's so bold To iogge or stirre where snortings are heard sung They are pincht to softer breath Some dreame of gold Of Trifles some his court here Morpheus keepes Which no man sooner enters than be sleepes And this description begins to make me drowsie alreadie But least speaking too much of sleepe I may be taxed and so taken napping my selfe I leaue the brother fast sleeping to find out the sister who to the worlds end shall euer be waking Death is sayd to be educated by her mother Night Pausanias puts vs in mind that in a Temple amongst the Elaeans there was a woman pourtraied leading two sleepy children that in her right hand White that in her left hand Blacke both with crooked legges and mishapen feet the inscription vpon the one was Sleepe vpon the other Death the woman that cherisht them Night This Death of all the powers that are is most impartiall and implacable and because by no prayers nor intercessions shee is to bee mooued therefore there are no altars nor temples nor sacrifices celebrated to her honourâ— her impartialitie and implacabilitie Orpheus hath signified in one of his hymnes Nec prece muneribus nec tu placabilis vllis She is attyred in a sable garment spotted with starres The wise men of the former ages extold her with miraculous praises calling her the port and onely secure harbor or rest
Queene of Aethiopia Harpalice of the Amazons Hyppolite of Magnesia Teuca of the Illyrians c. Of these in their places Amongst whom let me not be so vnnaturall to her merit or so ingratefull to my countrey thrice blest and diuinelie happie in her most fortunate raigne as not to remember that euer to be celebrated Princesse Elizabeth of late memory Queene of England She that was a Saba for her wisedome an Harpalice for her magnanimitie witnesse the Campe at Tilburie a Cleopatra for her bountie a Camilla for her chastitie an Amalasuntha for her temperance a Zenobia for her learning and skill in language of whose omniscience pantarite and goodnesse all men heretofore haue spoke too little no man hereafter can write too much sacred be still her memorie to vs on earth as her blessed soule liues euer glorified in heauen Her succeeded though not in her absolute Monarchy yet a Princesse of vnspotted fame incomparable clemencie vnmatchable goodnesse and most remarkable vertue Queene Anne whom all degrees honored all nations loued and no tongue was euer heard to asperse with the least callumnie who in her too short eminence heere amongst vs was knowne to be the step of dignitie to many but detriment to none in whom all were glad by whom none had euer the least cause of sorrow vnlesse in the lamented losse of so graue and gratious a princesse And for my owne part gentle and curteous reader let me borrow so much of thy patience that I may vpon this so iust and good occasion remember a long neglected dutie by inserting in this place a few funerall teares vpon her hearse A Funerall Oade vpon the death of ANNA PANARETA NOw Hymen change thy saffron weedes To roabe and habit sable For ioyfull thoughts vse funerall deedes Since nothing's firme or stable This alas we May read and see As in a mappe or printed table It was not at the time of yeare Birds bid the Spring god-morrow Nor when we from the Summer cleare Her warmth and pleasures borrow Nor when full fields Ripe Autumne yeelds That we are thus inuolu'd in sorrow But when the barren earth denyes Fruits to the reapers mowing When Meteors muster in the skyes And no faire fruits are growing When winter cold Dry seare and old His frozen fingers or'e the fire sits blowing When the Sunne scants vs of his heat And Phoebe tempests threateth When Boreas blustring in his seat His frozen pineons beateth And as a King Aboue the Spring The fresh and timely budds defeateth In this great barrennesse were we Our plenty made to smother But what might this rare iewell be A Saint a Queene a Mother An Hester faire A Iudith rare These dead oh point me out another Saue Debora that 's likewise dead Fam'd for her countries freeing But shall we henceforth see or reade Of such another being Oh what a dearth Is now on earth That heare none liues with these agreeing Saba was wise so was our Queene For beautie others famed Some for their vertue crown'd haue beene And in large legends named Who liuing shall Contend in all With her alas shall be but shamed But since our prayses at their best Shorten so farre her merit Leaue her to her eternall rest A glorious Sainted spirit For aye to sing Vnto heauens King Thanks for these ioyes she doth inherit Yet 't is a duty that we owe To giue our griefe expression The greater that our sorrowes grow It shewes the lesse transgression A losse like this T is not a misse That we then leaue to all succession Skyes mourne her death in stormie cloudes Seas weepe for her in brine Thou earth that now her frailtie shroudes Lament though she be thine Onely reioyce Heauen with lowd voyce That you are now become her shrine For this appear'd the Blazing starre Yet fresh in our memory That Christendome both neere and farre Might tell it as a story Great Ioue it sent With an intent Onely to get her to her glory In this Catalogue of Queenes hauing so late remembred the mother how can I forget the daughter she to whom I must giue that attribut which all soldiers bestow vpon her The Queene of women and the best of Queenes whose magnanimitie in war and gentlenes in peace resolution in the one and generous affabilitie in the other haue so sweet a correspondence that when the Canon roared lowd at the gates and the bullet forced a passage euen through the Pallace where she lodged was no more daunted in courage nor dismayd in countenance than when the gentle and soft musicke melodiouslie sounded at the celebration of her espousalls Sacred oh Princely Lady for euer be your memorie and fortunate and happy your hopefull posteritie may your wombe prooue a bed of souldiours and your breasts the nursserie of Kings may the sonnes victories redeeme the losses of the father and the daughters surmount the fertilitie of their mother may your future fortunes be answerable to your former vertues that as you haue the earnest prayers of all good men so you may haue the successe of their wishes which millions that neuer yet saw you desire but all that vnderstand you know you worthilie deserue 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 diuers Ladies famous for their Modestie OH thou Chastitie and puritie of life thou that art the ornament as well of man as woman from whence shall I inuoke thee thou diddest first helpe to kindle the sacred fires of Vesta where virginitie was made Religion Thou that was wont to frequent the chambers of great Ladies with sinnelesse and vndefiled hands make the beds of the cittie Matrons and to be obsequious about the Pallats strowed in the countrey cottages where shall I find thee now to direct this my pen in her large and vnbounded progresse or to tutour me so farre that I may know what on this argument thou thy selfe wouldest haue done Liuie Florus Plutarch and others speaking of the wonder of the Roman chastitie Lucresse accuse fortune or nature of error for placing such a manlie heart in the breast of a woman who being adulterated by Sextus Tarquinius after she had sent to her friends and to them complained her iniuries because she would not liue a by-word to Rome nor preserue a despoiled body for so noble a husbands embraces with a knife which she had hid vnder 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 transferd into a Consular dignitie Armenia the wife of Tygranes hauing beene with her husband at a sumptuous banquet made by King Cyrus in his Pallace Royall when euery one extold the maiestie and applauded the goodlinesse of the Kings person at length Tygranes askt his queene what her opinion was of his magnitude and person She answered I can
sent after them his horse men who not onely rifled them but stampt their children beneath their horses feete where many of the infants perished and so in confused heaps hurried them backe into the towne bearing the spoile into the Tyrants treasurie These outrages were the least of many which I purposely omit There liued at that time an antient noble man in the cittie called Hellanicus who entred into a combination with the exiles about the suppressing of the Tyrant and by reason of his yeares was neither by him feared nor suspected by the incouragement of this Hellanicus the confined citisens assembled themselues into a citie most conuenient for their deseigne cald Amimona to whom many of their allies and friends copartners in the publique calamitie resorted Aristotemus somwhat affrighted with this new faction repaired to a place of publike assembly whether he had caused all the chiefe matrons to be before called there in a premitated oration stuft with many threats aud menaces protested to inflict vpon them rackes tortures and lingring deaths vnlesse by speedie letters they did not onely persuade but preuaile with their husbands instantly to abandon the place they had fortified To whom Megisto the wife of Tymoleon a Ladie amongst the rest most respected not daigning the tyrant the least honour or so much as rising to doe him reuerence but sitting with a bold and vndaunted courage thus speake Weart thou a true spirited man as nothing lesse appeares in thee thou wouldest not threaten women in this base kind to betray their husbands but wouldest rather haue negotiated with them who haue entire power command ouer vs and that in smoother and more deceitfull language than such by which thou hast hetherto beguiled vs. But if thy cowardise and despairation compell thee to this exigent as thinking by our meanes to complot their ruines thou art in that hope destitute of all comfort let that day neuer be callendred to memorise them among men so void of councell and discretion that by sparing the liues of their wiues and children they should betray the sacred libertie of their countrie for the mischiefe is not so great to loose vs altogether whom they haue alredy wanted so long as the good and profit that must necessarily accrue by redeemimg the citties from thy insolencie and tyrannie These words were no sooner vttered but Aristotemus distracted with rage and furie commanded her young sonne to be sought and brought whom hee purposed to massacre before the mothers face and whil'st his lictors and serieants were inquiring for him amongst others that were then busied about their childish sports she spying him or her own accord called him to her with these words Come hether to me ô my sonne and now in thy childhood before thou hast apprehension or passionate feeling of tyrrannie be freed both from the terror and burden therof for mine own part I had rather see thee innocently dying than basely and ignobly seruing The Tyrant at her last speech more inraged than the former drew out his sword with purpose to haue slaine her when Cylo one of his familiar friends but indeede a cheefe man in the confederacie with Hellanicus staid his hand and by gentle words so tempered his spleene that he departed thence without any act of murder yet purpose of a future reuenge Vpon a day as hee was sporting vpon the bed with his wife vntill dinner was prepared and disposed vpon the table it happened that an Eagle soring aboue the Pallace let fall a great stone vpon the battlements iust ouer the bed where the king then lay and alighting there made such a fearefull and prodigious noyse that it not onely amased the king within but was wonderfull to all that beheld it without The Augurers were sent for to know what omen should succeede they flatter the tyrant and promise nothing but what is good and prosperous Hellanicus the same night in his dreame immagined his sonne appeared to him which sonne was by Aristotemus before murdered with his brother who spoke to him to this effect O father arise is this a time to sleepe when the whole gouernement of the cittie must depend on you to morrow With this dreame incouraged he comforted his adherents all attending the opportunitie of reuenge Aristotemus meane time hearing that Craterus was marched as farre as Olimpius with a great armie leauied for his safetie and supporture grew so bold vpon the rumor of so great a power that without his guard accompanied with Cylo onely he aduentured into the market place whom Hellanicus meeting by chance and almost extasied to see him so weakely attended with both his hands aduanced and with an audable and cleere voice he made this clamour Where be you you good long oppessed countriemen a braue Theatre is this for so noble a contention as our libertie being seated in the middest of our countrie and centre of our cittie This Cylo inuaded the next man to the king and slew him Thrasibulus and Lampides assaulted the tyrant who fled to the temple of Iupiter where they fell vpon him killed him then dragging his bodie into the market place proclaimed their libertie The women issued out of their houses with ioy clamour embracing their husbands fathers and friends with loude and glad acclamations thence in multitudes they made concourse to the pallace The tyrants wife to preuent their furie made fast her doore and in her priuat chamber strangled her selfe Aristotemus had two beautifull yong virgins to his daughters both marriagable these they were about to dragge into the streetes with purpose to destroy them but first to excrutiate them with all disgraces and contumacies Which Megisto seeing with her best oratorie appeased their present furie proposing to them how shamefull a thing it were for a noble and free state to immitate the insolencies of a bloodie and inhumane tyrannie libertie therfore was granted the yong damosells at her intercession to retire themselues into their chambers and to make choise of what death best suited with their present feares Myro the elder sister vnloosing from her wast a silken gyrdle fastened it about her owne necke and with a smiling and cheerefull looke thus comforted the younger My sweete and deere sister I more commiserat thy fate than lament mine owne yet immitate I intreat thee my constancie in death least any abiect thing or vnworthie may be obiected against vs vnagreeable with our blood and qualitie To whom the younger replyed That nothing could appeare more terrible to her than to behold her die therefore besought her by the affinitie of sisterhood to be the first that should make vse of that gyrdle and dying before her to leaue to her an example of resolution and patience Myro to her made answere I neuer denied thee any thing sweete 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 greeuouous to mee than mine
towards Phocis It happened 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 giue place from words they fell to blowes in which contention Polyphontes kild one of the horses that drew the charriot of Oedipus at which inraged he drew his sword and first slew Polyphontes and next Laius who seconded his seruant and thence tooke his ready way towards Thebes Damasistratus king of the Plataeenses finding the body of Laius caused it to be honorably interred In this interim Creon the sonne of Menecoeus in this vacancie whilest there was yet no king inuades Thebes and after much slaughter possesseth himselfe of the kingdome Iuno to vexe them the more sent thither the monster Sphinx borne of Echidna and Tiphon she had the face of a woman the wings of a fowle and the breast feete and tayle of a lyon she hauing learned certaine problemes and Aenigmaes of the muses disposed her selfe in the mountaine Phycaeus The riddle which she proposed to the Thebans was this What creature is that which hath one distinguishable voyce that first walkes vpon foure next two and lastly vpon three feet and the more legges it hath is the lesse able to walke The strict conditions of this monster were these that so often as he demanded the solution of this question till it was punctually resolued he had power to chuse out any of the people where he best liked whom hee presently deuoured but they had this comfort from the Oracle That this Aenigma should be no sooner opened and reconciled with truth but they should bee freed from this misery and the monster himselfe should be destroyed The last that was deuoured was Aemon son to king Creon who fearing least the like sad fate might extend it selfe to the rest of his issue caused proclamation to bee made That whosoeuer could expound this riddle should marry Iocasta the wife of the dead king Laius and be peaceably inuested in the kingdome this no sooner came to the eares of Oedipus but he vndertooke it and resolued it thus This creature saith he is Man who of all other hath onely a distinct voice he is borne foure-footed as in his infancy crawling vpon his feet and hands who growing stronger erects himselfe and walkes vpon two onely but growing decrepit and old he is fitly said to mooue vpon three as vsing the helpe of his staffe This solution was no sooner published but Sphinx cast her selfe headlong from the top of that high Promontory and so perisht and Oedipus by marrying the queene was with a generall suffrage instated in the kingdome He begot of her two sonnes and two daughters Eteocles and Polinices Ismene and Antigone though some write that Oedipus had these children by Eurigenia the daughter of Hiperphantes These former circumstances after some yeares no sooner came to light but Iocasta in despaire strangled her selfe Oedipus hauing torne out his eyes was by the people expulsed Thebes cursing at his departure his children for suffering him to vndergoe that iniurie his daughter Antigone lead him as farre as to Colonus a place in Attica where there is a groue celebrated to the Eumenides and there remâ—ined till he was remooued thence by Theseus and soone after dyed And these are the best fruits that can grow from so abhominable a roote Of the miserable end of his incestuous issue he that would be further satisfied let him reade Sophocles Apollodorus and others Of him Tyresius thus prophesied Neque hic laetabitur Casibus euentis suis nam factus c. No comfort in his fortunes he shall find He now sees cleerely must at length be blind And begge that 's now a rich man who shall stray Through forreine countreyes for his doubtfull way Still groaping with his staffe The brother hee And father of his children both shall be His mothers sonne and husband first strike dead His father and adulterate next his bed Crithaeis SHe was wife to one Phaemius a schoolemaster and mother to Homer prince of the Greek Poets Ephorus of Cuma in a book intituled the Cumaean Negotiation leaues her storie thus related Atelles Maeones and Dius three brothers were borne in Cuma Dius being much indebted was forced to remoue thence into Ascra a village of Boetia and there of his wife Picemeda hee begot Hesiodus Atelles in his owne countrey dying a naturall death committed the pupillage of his daughter Crithaeis to his brother Meones but comming to ripe growth she being by him vitiated and proouing with child both fearing the punishment due to such an offence she was conferred vpon Phaemius to whom she was soone after married and walking one day out of the cittie to bath her selfe in the riuer Miletus shee was by the flood side deliuered of young Homer and of the name thereof called him Melesigines But after loosing his sight hee was called Homer for such of the Cumaeans and Ionians are called Omouroi Aristotle he writes contrarie to Ephorus that what time Neleus the sonne of Codrus was President in Ionia of the Collonie there then newly planted a beautifull Virgin of this nation was forced and deflowred by one of the Genius's which vsed to daunce with the Muses who after remooued to a place called Aegina and meeting with certaine forragers and robbers that made sundrie incursions into the countrie shee was by them surprised and brought to Smyrna who presented her to Meonides a companion to the king of the Lydians hee at the first sight inamoured of her beautie tooke her to wife who after sporting herselfe by the bankes of Miletus brought foorth Homer and instantly expired And since we haue had occasion to speake of his mother let it not seeme altogether impertinent to proceede a little of the sonne who by reason of his being hurried in his childhood from one place to another and ignorant both of his countrey and parents went to the Oracle to be resolued concerning them both as also his future fortunes who returned him this doubtfull answere Faelix miser ad sortem es quia natus vtramque Perquiris patriam matris tibi non patris extat c. Happie and wretched both must be thy fate That of thy Countrey doost desire to heaâ—â— Knowne is thy mothers Cl'ime thy father 's not An Island in the Sea to Creet not neer Nor yet farre off in which thou shalt expire When boyes a riddle shall to thee propose Whose darke Aenigma thou canst not acquire A double Fate thy life hath thou shalt loose Thine eyes yet shall thy loftie Muse ascend And in thy death thou life haue without end In his latter 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 hauing got nothing that day but for want of other worke onely lousing
would haue left their places and habitatious desolate they therefore demanded of the Oracle a remedie for so great a mischiefe which returnd them this answer That the plague should neuer cease till the young man Menalippus and the faire Cometho were slaine and offered in sacrifice to Dianae Tryclaria and the reason was because hee had strumpeted her in her Temple And notwithstanding their deaths vnlesse euery yeare at the same season a perfectly featured youth and a virgin of exquisite-beautie to expiate their transgression were likewise offered vpon the same altar the plague should still continue which was accordingly done and Menalyppus and the faire Cometho were the first dish that was serued vp to this bloody feast The same author speakes of the daughter of Aristodemus in this manner The Messenians and the Lacedemonians hauing continued a long and tedious warre to the great depopulation of both their nations those of Missene sent to know the euent of the Oracle at Delphos and to which partie the victorie would at length incline Answer is returned That they shall bee conquerors and the Lacedemonians haue the worst but vpon this condition To chuse out of the family of the Aepitidarians a virgin pure and vnblemisht and this damsel to sacrifice to Iupiter This Aristodemus hearing a Prince and one of the noblest of the familie of the Aepitidarians willing to gratifie his countrey chused out his onely daughter for immolation and sacrifice which a noble youth of that nation hearing surprised both with loue and pittie loue in hope to inioy her and pitty as grieuing she should bee so dismembred he thought rather to make shipwracke of her honour than her life since the one might bee by an after-truth restored but the other by no earthly mediation recouered And to this purpose presents himselfe before the altar openly attesting that she was by him with child and therefore not onely an vnlawfull but abhominable offering in the eyes of Iupiter No sooner was this charitable slander pronounced by the young man but the father more inraged at the losse of her honour now than before commiserating her death being full of wrath he vsurpes the office of the priest and with his sword hewes the poore innocent Lady to peeces But not many nights after this bloody execution the Idaea of his daughter bleeding and with all her wounds about her presented it selfe to him in his trouble and distracted sleepe with which being strangely mooued he conueighed himselfe to the tombe where his daughter lay buried and there with the same sword slew himselfe Herodotus in Euterpe speakes of one Pheretrina queene of the Baccaeans a woman of a most inhumane crueltie she was for her tyranny strooke by the hand of heauen her liuing body eaten with wormes and lice and in that languishing misery gaue vp the ghost Propert. in his third book speaks of one Dyrce who much grieued that her husband Lycus was surprised with the loue of one Antiopa caused her to be bound to the horns of a mad bull but her two sonnes Zethus and Amphion comming instantly at the noyse of her lowd acclamation they released her from the present danger and in reuenge of the iniurie offered to their mother fastned Dyrce to the same place who after much affright and many pittifull and deadly wounds expired Consinge was the queene of Bithinia and wife to Nicomedes whose gesture and behauiour appearing too wanton and libidinous in the eyes of her husband hee caused her to be woorried by his owne dogges Plin. lib. 7. Pyrene the daughter to Bebrix was comprest by Hercules in the mountaines that diuide Italy from Spaine she was after torne in pieces by wild beasts they were cald of her Montes Pyreneae i. The Pyrenean mountaines Antipater Tarcenses apud Vollateran speakes of one Gatis a queene of Syria who was cast aliue into a moate amongst fishes and by them deuoured she was likewise called Atergatis Sygambis was the mother of Darius king of Persia as Quintus Curtius in his fourth booke relates she dyed vpon a vowed abstinence for being taken prisoner by Alexander yet nobly vsed by him whether tyred with the continuall labour of her iourney or more afflicted with the disease of the mind it is not certaine but falling betwixt the armes of her two daughters after fiue dayes abstinence from meate drinke and light she expired Semele the mother of Bacchus a Theban Lady and of the royall race of Cadmus perisht by thunder Pliny in his second booke writes of one Martia great with child who was strooke with thunder but the infant in her wombe strooke dead onely shee her selfe not suffering any other hurt or dammage in which place he remembers one Marcus Herennius a Decurion who in a bright cleare day when there appeared in the sky no signe of storme or tempest was slaine by a thunderclappe Pausanius apud Vollateran saith that Helena after the death of her husband Menelaus being banished into Rhodes by Megapenthus and Nicostratus the sonnes of Orestes came for rescue to Polyzo the wife of Pleopolemus who being iealous of too much familiaritie betwixt her and her husband caused her to be strangled in a bath others write of her that growing old and seeing her haires growne gray that face growne wythered whose lustre had beene the death of so many hundered thousands shee caused her glasse to be broken and in despaire strangled herselfe The like Caelius lib. 6. cap. 15. remembers vs of one Acco a proude woman in her youth and growne decrepid through age finding her brow to be furrowed and the fresh colour in her checkes quite decayed grew with the conceit thereof into a strange frenzie some write that she vsed to talke familiarly to her owne image in the Mirhor sometimes smile vpon it then againe menace it promise to it or slatter it as it came into her fancie in the end with meere apprehension that she was growne old and her beautie faded shee fell into a languishing and so died Iocasta the incestuous mother to Aeteocles and Polynices beholding her two sonnes perish by mutuall wounds strooke with the terrour of a deede so facinorous instantly slew her selfe So Bisaltia a mayd dispised by Calphurnius Crassus into whose hands she had betraide the life of her father and freedome of her countrie fell vpon a sword and so perished Zoe the Emperesse with her husband Constantius Monachus both about one time died of the Pestilence Gregorius Turonensis writes of one Austrigilda a famous Queene who died of a disease called Disenteria which is a flux or wringing of the bowells Of the same griefe died Sausones sonne to Chilperick Serena the wife of Dioclesian for verie griefe that so much Martyres blood was spilt by her husbands remorseles tyrannie fell into a feauer and so died Glausinda daughter to the king of the Gothes
and wife to Athanagildus was slaine by Chilperick the sonne of Clotharius at the instigation of his strumpet Fredegunda so saith Volateranus Sextus Aurelius writes that the Emperour Constantius sonne to Constantius and Helena caused his wife Fausta by whose instigation he had slaine his sonne Crispus to die in an hot scalding bath Herodotus speakes of Lysides otherwise called Melissa the wife of Periander who at the suggestion of a strumpet caused her to be slaine which makes Sabellicus amongst others to wonder why for that deede onely he should be numbered amongst the seuen wise men of Greece Marcus Cecilius in his seuen and twentieth booke vpon Pliny accuseth Calphurnius Bestia for poysoning his wiues sleeping Plinie in his fourteenth booke nominates one Egnacius Melentinus who slew his wife for no other cause but that shee had drunke wine and was acquited of the murder by Romulus Auctoclea the daughter of Sinon and wife of Laertes king of Ithaca when by a false messenger she heard her sonne Vlysses was slaine at the siege of Troy suddenly fell downe and died The mother of Antista seeing her daughter forsaken by Pompey the great and Aemilia receiued in her stead ouercome with griefe slew her selfe Perimele a damosell was vitiated by Achelous which her father Hyppodomus tooke in such indignation that from an high promontorie he cast her headlong downe into the Sea Hyppomanes a prince of Athens deprehending his daughter Lymone in adulterie shut her vp in a place with a fierce and cruell horse but left no kind of food for one or the other in so much that the horse opprest with hunger deuoured her hence came that Adage fathered vpon Diogineanus More cruell than Hyppomanes Gregorius Turonensis remembers one Deuteria fearing least her yong daughter now grown ripe and marriageable who might bee deflowred by the king Theodebertus cast her headlong into the riuer that runs by the citie Viridunum where she was drowned Orchamus finding his daughter Leucothoe to be vitiated by Appollo caused her to be buryed aliue Lucilla the daughter of Marcus Antonius and Fausta as Herodian reports was slaine by the hand of her brother Commodus against whom she had before made a coniuration Lychione the daughter of Dedalion because she durst compare hirself 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 shee Centaur seeing her husband Cillarius slaine in the battaile betwixt the Centaurs and the Lapithes fell vpon his sword and so expired Anmianus and Marcellus lib. 16. haue left recorded that Mithridates king of Pontus being ouercome in battaile by Pompey committed his daughter Dyraptis to the safe custodie of the Eunuch Menophilus to bee kept in a strong Cittadell called Syntiarium which when Manutius Priscus had straitly besieged and the Eunuch perceiued the defenders of the Castle dismaide and readie to submit themselues and giue vp the fort hee drew out his sword and slew her rather than she should be made a captiue to the Roman Generall Sextus Aurelius writes of the Empresse of Sabina the wife of Adrian who hauing suffered from him many grosse and seruile iniuries gaue her selfe vp to a voluntarie death when shee considered shee had supported so inhumane a tyrant and such a contagious pest to the common weale Pontus de Fortuna speakes of a Virgin amongst the Salattines called Neaera who greeuing that a yong man to whom shee was betrothed had forsaken her and made choice of another caused her vaines to be opened and bled to death Cleopatra after the death of Anthony least shee should bee presented as a captiue to grace the triumphs of Augustus gaue her arme to the byting of an Aspe of which shee died for in that manner was her picture presented in Rome of whom Propertius lib. 3. thus speakes Brachia spectaui sacris admorsa colubris Neaera and Charmione were the two handmaides of Cleopatra These as Plutarch others report of them would by no persuasion suruiue their queen and misteresse who perceiuing as they were gasping betwixt life and death the crowne to be falne from the temples of their dead Ladie raised themselues from the Earth with the small strength they had left and placed it right againe on her fore-head that shee might the better become her death which they had no sooner done but they both instantly fell downe and breathed their last an argument of an vnmatchable zeale to the princesse their Ladie Monima Miletia and Veronica Chia were the wiues of Mithridates who vnderstanding of his tragicall fall and miserable end gaue vp their liues into the hands of the Eunuch Bochides Monima first hanged her selfe but the weight of her bodie breaking the cord she grew somewhat recouered and fell into this acclamation O execrable power of a diadem whose command euen in this small sad seruice I cannot vse which words were no sooner spoke but she offered her throate to the sword of the Eunuch who instantly dispatched her both of life and torment Veronica dranke off a chalice of wine tempered with poyson which dispersing into her vaines 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 Aelianus and others haue writ gaue themseues vp to voluntarie deaths many or the most strangling themselues 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 remedie which mischiefe the Senators of the citie made a decree That what maide soeuer should after that time lay violent hands vpon her selfe the body so found dead should be stript naked and in publike view dragd through the streetes freely exposed to the eyes of all men The impression of which shame more preuailing than the terrour of death none was euer after knowne to commit the like outrage vpon themselues Phaedra the steppe-mother to Hyppolitus her son in law and wife of Theseus when shee could not corrupt the yong 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 prooued the speedie cause of his death Amongst many strange deaths these of two mothers are not the least remarkable most strange it is that sudden ioy should haue as much power to suffocate the spirits as the power of lightning The rumor of the great slaughter at the Lake of Thrasimenes being published one woman when beyond all hope she met her sonne at the cittie gate safely returned from the generall defeates cast herselfe into his armes where in that extasie of ioy shee instantly expired Another hearing her sonne
and howsoeuer the euent prooue the reward of the victorie is nothing but the dammage arising from the fight manifest Their answer went before which their resolution as suddenlie and swiftlie pursued after for their army and their answer almost arriued together whose celeritie in march and resolution in purpose when Vexores vnderstood he forsooke his tents and all prouision for warre and betooke himselfe to a base and dishonourable flight They pursued him to the Aegyptian fennes but by reason of the marishes and vncertaine ground their further passage was prohibited Retyring thence they ouerranne Asia and subdued it vnder their predominance imposing on the Nations a small tribute rather in acknowledgement of the title than to be gainers by the victory the enemy rather suffering disgrace than oppression fifteene yeares they continued in Asia rather to settle the estate than to extort from the inhabitants From thence they were called by the wickednesse of their wiues from whom they receiued word That vnlesse they instantly repayred home they would seeke issue from the neighbour nations for they would not suffer the posteritie of the antient Scythians to bee in the women extinct Asia was for many yeares tributarie to the Scythians Trogus and Iustine say for a thousand and fiue hundred yeares which ended in Ninus king of Assyria In this interim two princely youthes among the Scythians Plinos and Scolopitus being by the optimates and chiefe of the people expulst from their families drew to their societie a mightie confluence and inuaded Cappadocia planting themselues neere to the riuer Thermedon and being by conquest possest of the Prouince of Themisciria there hauing for many yeares made spoyle of the neighbour nations by the conspiracie of the multitude who were opprest with their insolencies they were betraide and slaine Their wiues by reason of their exile halfe in despaire boldly tooke armes and first retyring themselues and making their owne confines defensible after grew to the resolution to inuade others Besides they disdained to marry with their neighbours calling it rather a seruitude than Wedlock A singular example to all ages Thus they augmented their seigniories and establisht their common-weale without the counsell or assistance of men whose fellowship they began now altogether to despise and to communicate their losse to make the widdowes of equall fortune with the wiues they slew all the men that yet remained amongst them and after reuenged the deaths of their husbands formerlie slaine vpon the bordering people that conspired against them At length by warre hauing setled peace least their posteritie and memory should perish they had mutuall congression with their neighbour nations The men children they slew the female they nourced and brought vp not in sowing and spinning but in hunting and practise off armes and horsemanship and that they better might vse their launces and with the more ease at seauen yeares of age they seared or rather burnt of their right breasts of which they tooke the name of Amasons as much as to say Vnimammae or Vrimammae i. those with one breast or with a burnt breast There were of them two queenes that ioyntly held the soueraigntie Marthesia and Lampedo these diuided their people into two armies and being growne potent both in power and riches they went to warre by turnes the one gouerning at home whilest the other forraged abroad and least there should want honour and authoritie to their successes they proclaimed themselues to be deriued from Mars in so much that hauing subdued the greater part of Aeurope they made incursions into Asia and there subdued many fortresses and castles where hauing built Ephesus with many other citties part of their army they sent home with rich and golden spoyles the rest that remained to maintaine the Empire of Asia were all with the queene Marthesia or as some write Marpesia defeated and slaine In whose place of soueraigntie her daughter Orythia succeeded who besides her singular valour and fortunate successe in warre was no lesse admired for her constant vowe of virginitie which to her death she kept inuiolate The bruite of their glorious and inuincible acts reaching as farre as Greece Hercules with a noble assembly of the most Heroicke youthes furnisht nine ships with purpose to make proofe of their valor two of foure sisters at that time had the principalitie Antiope and Orythia Orythia was then imployde in forreine expeditions Now when Hercules with the young Heroes landed vpon the Amasonian continent the queene Antiope not iealous of the least hostility stood then with many of her ladies vnarmed on the shore who being suddainly assaulted by the Graecians were easily put to rout and they obtained an easie victorie in this conflict many were slaine and diuers taken amongst whom were the two sisters of Antiope Menalippe surprised by Hercules and Hyppolite by Theseus hee subdude her by armes but was captiuated by her beautie who after tooke her to his wife and of her begot Hyppolitus Of her Seneca in Agamemnon thus speakes Vidit Hyppolite ferox pectore emedio rapi Spolium sagittas The bold Hyppolite did see that day Her breast despoyld and her shafts tane away Of Menalippe Virgill thus Threicean sexto spolianit Amazona Baltheo Hauing relation to the golden belt of Thermedon which was numbered the sixt of Hercules his twelue labours He receiued that honour and she her libertie Orythia being then abroad and hearing of these outrages and dishonours done at home that warre had beene commenced against her sister and Theseus prince of Athens borne thence Hyppolite whom she held to be no better than a rauishor impatient of these iniuries shee conuented all her forces and incited them to reuenge inferring that in vaine they bore Empire in Europe and Asia if their dominions lay open to the spoyles and rapines of the Grecians Hauing incouraged and persuaded her owne people to this expedition she next demanded ayd of Sagillus king of the Scythians to him acknowledging herselfe to be descended from that nation showes the necessitie of that warre and the honour of so braue a victorie hoping that for the glorie of the Scythian nation his men would not come behind her women in so iust an enterprise the successe of which was vndoubtedly spoyle for the present and fame for euer Sagillus with these motiues incouraged sent his sonne Penaxagoras with a great armie of horsemen to ayd Orithea in this warre but by reason of a discention that fell in the campe the prince of Scythia withdrew all his auxiliarie forces and with them retired into his countrey by reason of which defect the Amazons were defeated by the Grecians yet many of them after this battaile recouered their countries After this Orythea succeeded Penthisilaea shee that in the ayd of Priam or as some say for the loue of Hector came to the siege of Troy with a thousand Ladies where after many deeds of chiualrie by her performed she was slaine by
c. The same author lib. 2. speakes of one Tiburna Saguntina the wife of one Marhus a braue and bold female warrior Zenobia queene of the Palmyrians after the death of her husband Odenatus tooke vpon her the imperiall regencie and made tributarie the kingdome of Syria neither feared shee to take armes against the Emperour Aurelianus by whom she was ouercome and led in triumph but when it was obiected to Caesar as a dishonour and reproach that he had triumpht ouer a woman he answered It was no disgrace at all being ouer such a woman as excelled most men in Masculine vertue Of whom Pontanus thus speakes Qualis Aethiopum quondam sitientibus aruis In fuluum regina gregem c. As did the Aethiopian queene In the dry fields of old Incounter with the yellow heards whose rough haires shin'd like gold Opposing the sterne Lions paw Alone and without ayde To see whom wrestle men aloofe stood quaking and afraid Such 'tweene two warlike hosts appeares This Amasonian Queene Zenobia with her strong bow arm'd And furnisht with shafts keene Hypsicrataea the wife of Mithridates was still present with him in battaile and left him in no danger cutting her haire short least it should offend her when she put on her beauer Artimesia queene of Caria after the death of her husband was admired through Greece who not onely in a nauall expedition ouercame the inuading Rhodians but pursued them euen vnto their owne coasts and tooke possession of the Island amidst whose ruines she caused her owne glorious statue to be erected of whom Herodotus thus writes I cannot wonder sufficiently at this warlike queene Artimesia who vnforced and vncompeld followed the expedition of Xerxes against Greece out of her owne manly courage and excellencie of spirit She was the daughter of Lydamus her father was of Halicarnassus her mother of Creete shee furnished fiue shippes of her owne charge with Halicarnassaeans Coeans Nisirians and Calidnians in the great sea fight neere Salamine to behold which battaile Xerxes had retired himselfe and stood but as a spectator Iustine lib. 2. saith There was to bee seene in Xerxes womanish feare in Artimesia manly audacitie for shee demeaned herselfe in that battaile 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 brauely the queene Artimesia beares her selfe this dayâ— the king would not at first beleeue that such resolution could bee in that Sex at length when notwithstanding her braue seruice hee perceiued his nauie beaten and put to flight he sighing thus said All my men this day haue shewed themselues women and there is but one woman amongst them and she onely hath shewed herselfe a man Many of the most illustrious persons dyed that day as also of the Meades amongst whom was the great captaine Aria Begnes the sonne of Darius and brother of Xerxes Cleopatra queene of Aegypt the daughter of Dionisius Auletes after the death of Iulius Caesar hauing taken Antonius in the bewitching snares of her beautie shee was not contented with the kingdomes of Aegypt Syria and Arabia but she was ambitious to soueraignise ouer the Roman Empire in which though she fayled it shewed as inuincible a spirit in the attempt as shee exprest an vnmatched courage in the manner of her voluntary death Cyrus the Persian inuading the Messagets and Scythians of which Tomyris then raigned queene she sent against him her onely sonne Spargapises with a puissant army to beat him back againe beyond the riuer Araxes which he had late with a mightie host traiected But the young man not inured to the stratagems and policies of warre suffered his souldiours in the height of wine and surfets to be inuaded his tents rifled his army defeated and himselfe taken prisoner by Cyrus To whom the queene sent to this purpose Thou hast surprised my sonne by fraud not strength by deceit not warre be now counselled by me Returne me the Prince and with the honour to haue vanguisht the third part of my people vnpunished depart out of my countrey which if thou dost not I vow by the Sunne the Lord and God to which the Messagets giue due adoration that I will quench thy thirst beest thou neuer so much insatiate of blood This message being deliuered to Cyrus he regarded it not but held it as the vaine boast of a franticke woman But Spargapises the sonne of Tomyris being awaked from the drowsinesse of wine and perceiuing into what mischiefe he was falne intreated Cyrus he might be released from his bonds to which the Persian granted who no sooner found his legges vnbound and his hands at libertie but he instantly catcht hold of a weapon with which he slew himselfe The queene hauing intelligence of the death of her sonne and withall that Cyrus gaue no heed to her admonition collected a puissant armie of purpose to giue him battaile who inticed him by a counterfeit flight into certaine straits of her countrey where hauing ambusht her men she fell vpon the Persians and made of them an infinite slaughter to the defeating of their whole host In this strange and bloody execution Cyrus himselfe fell whose body Tomyris caused to be searcht for and being found filled a vessell with blood into which commanding his head to be throwne shee thus insultingly spake Of human blood in thy life thou weart insatiate and now in thy death thou mayst drinke thy fill The fashions of the Messagets are after this manner described by Herodotus Their habit and their food is according to the Scythians they fight as well on horsebacke as on foot being expert in both they are both archers and lanciers in all their weapons armour or caparisons vsing gold and brasse in the heads of their speares their quiuers their daggers and other armour they were brasse but whatsoeuer belongs to the head or to the belt is of the purest gold the breast-plates of their horses and what belongs to their trappings and caparisons are buckled and studded with brasse but that which appertaines to the headstall or raines is of gold of yron and siluer they haue small vse or none as being rare in their countrey but gold and brasse they haue in aboundance Euery man marrieth a wife but not to his owne peculiar vse for they keepe them in common for what the Greeks in this kind remember of the Scythians they do not it is customable onely amongst the Messagets if any man haue an appetite to a woman he onely hangs his quiuer vpon the next bough prostitutes her in publike without taxation or shame There is no limit proposed to terminate their liues when any growes old his neighbours about him make a generall meeting and with great ceremony after the manner of a sacrifice cause him to be slain with
behold the feathers of the Iay or Parrat with the admirable varietie of the Feasant and Peacock What Rose in the cheeke can counteruaile the Rose of the garden or what azure veine in the temples the blew flower of the field Come to outward habit or ornament what woman doth better become the richest attyre though fetcht from the farthest parts of the world than the Panther his staynes and the Leopard his pleasing and delightfull spots Are not the Fishes as beautifull in their siluer-shining skales and the terrible Dragon as glorious in his golden armour as women apparrelled in cloth of Bodkin or Tissue What is she that exceeds the Doue or Swan in whitenesse or the Pyne or Cedar in straitnesse Let me heare her voyce that can compare with the Nightingale in sweetnesse or behold that eye that can looke vpon the Sunne with the Eagles Why should you faire ones then be prowd of any thing that are by other creatures exceeded in all things Besides eâ—en the choysest beautie amongst you being once enioyed is the lesse esteemed Souldiers hauing vanquisht their enemies hang vp their armes Sea-men that haue attayned their harbour fold vp their sayles The choysest dainties are loathsome to such as haue filled their stomacks and Wine is a burthen to him that hath satiated his thirst Nobilitie of birth is a thing honorable but you are not beholding to your selues for it but your ancestors Riches and Plentie are excellent but they are the gifts of Fortune therefore subiect to change and casualtie Prayse and Honor is venerable but withall vnstable Health is precious but subiect to sicknesse and infirmitie Strength an excellent gift and blessing but neither free from age nor disease Beautie is admirable aboue all and yet subiect to all onely Learning Knowledge Art and Vertue are aboue the enuie of change or mallice of Fortune Neither are you women solely beautifull We reade in Martial lib. 1. of a boy called Achillas of admirable feature of Acanthus whom the gods at his death in memorie of his exquisite forme changed into a flower that still beares his name Amongst the Romans Scipio surnamed Demetrius and amongst the Greekes Alcibiades carryed the Palme from women who as Plutarch in his life reports of him was not onely wondered at in his youth but admired in his age his grace and comelinesse still growing with him Formosum pastor Coridon ardebat Alexim The shepheard Coridon doted on the faire Alexis Saxo Gramaticus speakes of Alphus the sonne of Gygarus whose haires exceeded the brightnesse of Siluer Amaratus was changed into a sweet-smelling flower after his death Calentius speakes of Amphimâ—don thus Formosum Phiale prius arserat Amphimedonta Amphimedon Phiales maxima cura fuâ—t Phiale was enamored of Amphimedon the faire Amphimedon of Phiale became the greatest care Antinous Bithinieus was a youth of that admirable beautie and feature that Adrian the Emperour was enamoured of him in whose memorie he erected a Temple in Mantinea and built a cittie by the riuer Nilus he caused his effigies to be stamped vpon his owne coine therefore Hieronimus as Vollaterranus reports calls him the Emperour Adrians concubine Asterius was the sonne of Ceres a yong man of a singular forme but altogether abstenious from the loue of women whom Ouid in Ilium remembres Astur is celebrated by Virgil Sequitur pulcherimus Astur Astur equo fidens versicoloribus armis The fairest Astur follows next in field Astur that trusts vnto his horse ans particoloured shield Atis the Phrigian youth was for his fairenesse beloued of the mother of the gods Virgill speakes of Auentinus in these words Victoresque ostentat equos satus Hercule pulcro Pulcher Auentinus Faire Auentinus he that of faire Hercules was borne Boasts of his conquering steedes Batillus was the fauourite or sweet-heart of Anacreon the Poet of whom Pontanâ—s de Stellis Amatum a vate Batillum Pictum oculis fuscumque coma roseumque labellis The Poet of Batillus was enamoured With painted eyes browne haire and lips like Roses red By the way Sure there was a great dearth of beautie in those dayes amongst women when boyes and catamites were so doted on by men Bellerephon was not onely affected by Sthenobaea the wife of Pretus king of the Argiues but doted on by Venus Of Castor and Pollux the two faire Tindarides Ouid. lib. 6. thus writes At gemini nondum Coelestia sidera fratres Ambo conspicâ—i niue candidioribus ambo Vectabantur equis The two twinne brothers not as yet accounted 'Mongst the coelestiall starres conspicuous bâ—th Vpon two steeds whiter than snow were mounted c. The yong boy Cestus Martiall thus commends Quanta tua est probitus c. How great thy honesty thy fame as rare Oh sweete child Cestus thou that may'st comparâ— With Theseus sonne did bright Diana see Thee naked once inamoured she would be And tyce thee to some pleasant â—iuers brim There strip her selfe and teach thee how to swim Democles an Athenian youth was of that pulchritude that he was called by all men Pulcher Democles and that which seldome meets with beautie of that rare temperance that when king Demetrius plucked him to haue made him a prostitute to his vnlawfull and beastly lusts to shun his embraces he leaped into a caldron of seething hot liquor and there drowned himselfe Plutarch in Demetrio Diadumenus the cup-bearer to Augustus was of that admirable feature that in the contention which was made at Elis he carried the palme both from men and women Volateran For no other cause was Ganimede sayd to fill Nectar to Iupiter than for his eligancie of forme Galetes was a youth of that excellent feature and so indeered to Ptolomaeus that when diuerse malefactors and for great crimes were led to execution onely at his entreatie hee spared their liues Hypoclides the sonne of Thysander as Herodotus relates was excellent aboue all the Athenians for wealth and beautie Of Hyas the sonne of Atlas and Aethra Ouid 5. de Fast. Nondum stabat Atlas humeros oneratus Olimpo Cum satus est forma conspiciendus Hias Olimpas weight did not as yet Great Atlas backe adorne When as the louely Hyas of Conspicuous shape was borne Hylas the sonne of Hyadamus was not onely indeered to Hercules but doted on by the nymphs called Driades Iulus the sonne of Aeneas and Creusa was taken for Cupid the sonne of Venus Iuuencus was the minion of Catullus as Lygurinus was to Horace so likewise Lycus of whom he thus speakes Et Lycum nigris oculis nigroque Crine decorum Lycus rare Both for his blacke eyes and his blacke sleeke haire Some thing more freely he speakes of the Pulchritude of Nearchus in Carm. and his Odes Of Nireus the sonne of Caropus and Alaga Homer speakes at large as Horace likewise in Carm. and Epedo Tibullus commends his Marathis Maximinus that his head being mangled and bloodie yet notwithstanding in death it looked admirable Marcellus the sonne of
much hated in regard of enmitie betwixt him and his father Clodius for Cicero was of Miloes faction Titus had long and dearely loued the faire Terentia but vnderstanding that his friend Appius was likewise exceedingly inamoured of her hee left his owne suit and earnestly sollicited the ladie in his behalfe who was easily persuaded to the motion hauing long before cast an affectionate eye vpon Appius but durst make no expression thereof much fearing the displeasure of her father Titus so well managed the businesse for his friend that hee brought him priuily into the house of Cicero where the two louers had mutuall conference her father comming home by accident and finding them together in the heate of his impatience excluded him and lockt her vp in safe and close custodie Which the poore Ladie tooke so to heart that shee fell into an extreame feauer and languishing daily her father now when it was too late desired to know what he might doe to minister vnto her the least comfort shee onely besought him that before her death shee might take her last and louing leaue of Appius who was instantly sent for at his sudden comming in shee was extaside with his sight and expired in his embraces which the noble youth perceiuing hee drew out a short dagger which hee then wore about him and in the presence of her father and his owne deere friend slew himselfe A more comicall conclusion hath that which I shall next tell you An old Vicar in the countrey hauing a wonderous faire wench to his daughter it happened that a young scholler that for want of meanes had left the Vniuersitie was preferred to the seruing of a Cure somewhat neere him by which hee had opportunitie to woo the maid and after had the parents consent to marrie her It happened not long after this young man had a Parsonage bestowed vpon him by his patron the father and the sonne meeting vpon a time at a market towne with diuers gentlemen of the countrey being at dinner amongst other discourse cauelling about an argument they fell into controuersie which should bee the better man many rough words passed in so much that the gentlemen were forced to come betwixt them and keepe the peace The old man he stood vpon his grauitie and the name of father the young man pleaded That in regard he was a Parson and the other but a Vicar that he was the better of the two This raised the vprore afresh which the gentlemen had much adoe to appease at length the young man demaunded audience but for a few words in which sayth he if I doe not conuince him and make it plaine and palpable before you all that I am the worthier of the two for name place and antiquitie I will yeeld him prioritie and precedence for euer after The words of Name and Antiquitie the old man heard with much impatience at length audience being granted and silence obtained Now yong knaue sayth the old Vicar what canst thou say for thy selfe I onely desire answered the young man to be resolued in one question propound iâ— sayâ—h the other Marrie thus sayth he When the world was distroyed in the generall deluge all saue eight Parsons tell me Where were the Vicars then The old man was blanke the gentlemen smiled and the young man carried it so that euer after the sonne tooke place of the father and the faire daughter of the mother I will onely remember you of a faire young gentlewoman a countrey woman of mine and so conclude with my Faire ones A gallant newly come to his lands became a suitor to a proper young Virgin her fathers onely child and heire Hee hauing had conference with her father conditions on both sides were debated the match concluded and the day of marriage appointed the father and the sonne in law riding abroad one morning to take the ayre the antient gentleman was mounted on an easie paced Mare which he kept his owne saddle this beast the young gallant was so enamored of that hee offered to buy her at any rate though neuer so vnreasonable but the old man entreated him to hold him excused because the beast was easie and gentle fitting his age and being disfurnished of her hee knew not how to come by the like therefore his resolution was neyther to depart from her for loue nor money The gentleman grew so obstinate to haue her and the other so selfe-will'd to keepe her that at length the sonne in law told him plainely That if hee would not sell him his Mare he would not marrie his daughter The father at this grew into choller and told him If he respected his child no better but set her so slight he bad him come when he sent for him and vpon these short tearmes they parted A fortnight passed in this discontent at length the young gallant better aduising with himselfe and the gentlewomans beautie still sticking in his stomacke he began to recant his former obstinacie and purposely tooke horse to renew old acquaintance and giue her fresh visitation and comming something neere the house it was the young gentlewomans fortune to spye him from a bay window who instantly steps downe to the gate meaning her selfe to play the porter Three or foure times hee knockes at the gate but no bodie answered at length hee rapt so loud that shee opened the wicket and asked him Who he was and what he would haue He seeing it was she smilingly answered It is I sweet-heart doe you not know me Not I indeed replyed she for to my remembrance I neuer saw you before To whom he againe answered I am such a man and by these and these tokens I can put you in mind that you cannot chuse but know me Oh I crie you mercie it is true indeed saith shee I now very well remember you You are hee that came a wooing to my fathers Mare so clapt to the gate and left him and neuer after would giue him the least entertainment Of Women Deformed IT is remembered of the Poet Hypponax by Plinie Lib. 36. cap. 5. to be of that vnhappie shape vnseemely presence and vncomely countenance so deformed both in face and feature that he became a generall scorne to all insomuch that two famous Painters Bubulus and Anterinus drawing his picture and setting it out to sale had pensill'd him in such ridiculous and vnfashionable manner that the Table begot laughter from all such as passed by and beheld it Which Hypponax hearing hee so persecuted the poore Painters in his bitter Iambicks and inuectiue Satyres that despayring they hanged themselues Then blame me not if I be sparing in ripping vp the deformities of women least they prosecute me as seuerely with their rayling tongues as the Poet did the Painters with his Satyricall penne It is an argument therefore that I desire to be briefe in Athenaeus Lib. 9. tells vs That Anacharsis the Philosopher sitting at a Banquet with his wife who was a wondrous blacke
deliuerers of her people And so much for the Legend But Richardus Diuisiensis sayth That being awed by Earle Godwin and for the feare of hasarding his life and kingdome Edward was compelled by threats and menaces to the marriage of Editha Moreouer Polydore reports That for the hate he bore her father who had not long before most trayterously slaine his brother Alphred hee caused himselfe to be diuorced from her seising her goods and dower to his owne vse and pleasure Ranulphus and one that writes himselfe Anonimos as willing to conceale his name say That shee was disrobed of all her Queene-like honors and confined into the Abbey of Warnwell with only one maid to attend her and so committed to the strict custodie of the Abbesse William of Malmesbury and Marianus Scotus haue left remembred That hee neyther dismissed her his bed nor carnally knew her but whether it was done in hatred to her kindred or purpose of Chastitie they are not able to determine Robert Fabian confesseth as much in his Chronicle Part. 6. cap. 210. Howsoeuer the effects of that abstenious life were not onely preiudiciall but brought lamentable effects vpon this distracted kingdome namely Innouation and Conquest for Edward dying without issue England was inuaded and opprest by the Normans and the people brought to that miserie that happie was that subiect that could say I am no Englishman And in this agree Matthew Paris Capgraue Fabian and Polydore As I hold it not necessarie for marryed folke to tye themselues to this strict kind of abstinence so I hold it not conuenient for any such as haue to themselues and in their soules taken vpon them the strict life of Virginitie to be compelled to an enforced marriage as may appeare by this discourse following recorded by Gulielm Malmsburien Simeon Danelmens Matthew Paris Roger Houeden Capgraue c. Henry the first of that name king of England and crowned in the yeere of Grace 1101 was by the instigation of Anselme once a Monke of Normandie but after by William Rufus constituted Archbishop of Canterburie marryed vnto Maude daughter to Malcolme the Scottish king she hauing taken a Vow and being a profest Nunne in the Abbey of Winchester Much adoe had the King her father the Queene her mother her Confessor Abbesse or the Bishop to alienate her from her setled resolution or persuade her to marriage but being as it were violently compelled thereunto she cursed the Fruit that should succeed from her bodie which after as Polydore affirmes turned to the great misfortune and miserie of her children for afterwards two of her sonnes William and Richard were drowned by Sea Besides her daughter Maude who was afterwards Empresse prooued an vnfortunate Mother and amongst many other things in bringing forth Henry the second who caused Thomas Becket to be slaine it thus happened All forraine warres being past and ciuile combustions pacified in the yeere of our Lord 1120 Henry the first with great ioy and triumph left Normandie and came into England But within few dayes following this great mirth and iollitie turned into a most heauie and fearefull sorrow for William and Richard his two sonnes with Mary his daughter Otwell their Tutor and Guardian Richard Earle of Chester with the Countesse his wife the Kings Neece many Chapleines Chamberlaines Butlers and Seruitors for so they are tearmed in the storie the Archdeacon of Hereford the Princes play-fellowes Sir Geffrey Rydell Sir Robert Maldvyle Sir William Bygot with other Lords Knights Gentlemen great Heires Ladyes and Gentlewomen to the number of an hundred and fortie besides Yeomen and Mariners which were about fiftie all these sauing one man which some say was a Butcher were all drowned together and not any one of their bodyes euer after found Many attribute this great Iudgement to the heauie Curse of Queene Maude others censure of it diuersly Howsoeuer in this King as Polydore sayth ended the Descent and Lyne of the Normans Of this Anselme before spoken of there are diuerse Epistles yet extant to many women in those dayes reputed of great Temperance and Chastitie as To Sister Frodelina Sister Ermengarda Sister Athelytes Sister Eulalia Sister Mabily and Sister Basyle To Maude Abbesse of Cane in Normandie and Maude the Abbesse of Walton here in England Hee writ a Treatife about the same time called Planctus a missae Virginitatis i. A bewayling of lost Virginitie So farre Iohn Bale And so much shall serue for Chast Wiues in this kind being loth to tyre the patience of the Reader Of Women Wantons DIon the Historiographer in Tiberio sayth that Lyuia the wife of Augustus Caesar beholding men naked sayd to the rest about her That to continent women and chast matrons such obiects differed nothing from statues or images for the modest heart with immodest sights ought not to be corrupted The vnchast eye more drawes the poyson of sinne from beautie which is Gods excellent workemanship from which the chast and contrite heart deriues the Creators praise and glorie But my hope is that in exposing vnto your view the histories of these faire Wantons you will looke vpon them should I strip them neuer so naked with the eyes of Lyuia that is to hold them but as beautifull statues or like Appelles his woman not better than a picture of white Marble I haue heard of a man that liuing to the age of threescore and ten had led so austere a life that in all that time he neuer touched the bodie of a woman and had proposed to himselfe to carrie that Virginall vow with him to his graue but at length being visited with sickenesse and hauing a faire estate purchased with his small charge and great husbandrie and therefore willing to draw out the thread of his life to what length he could hee sent to demaund the counsell of the Phisitians who hauing well considered the estate of his bodie all agreed in this that since the phisick of the soule belonged not to them but onely the phisick of the bodie they would freely discharge their duties and indeed told him that this present estate was dangerous and they found but onely one way in art for his cure and recouerie which was in plaine tearmes To vse the companie of a woman and so tooke their leaues and left him to consider of it Loath was the old man to loose his Virginitie which hee had kept so long but more loath to part with his life which he desired to keepe yet longer and hauing meditated with himself from whom he was to depart and what to leaue behind him namely his possessions his money his neighbours friends and kindred and whether hee was to remooue to the cold and comfortlesse graue he resolued with himselfe to prolong the comfort of the first and delay as long he could the feare of the last Therefore hee resolued rather than to be accessorie to the hastening his owne death to take the counsell of the doctors It was therfore so ordered by
some that were about him that the next night a lustie young wench was brought to his bed one that feared not the robustious violence of youth much lesse to encounter the imbesillitie of sicke and weake age I know not with what queasie stomach the patient relished his phisicke but early in the morning he gaue content to his shee Apothecarie who was conueyed out of the house vndiscouered The next day diuers of his friends comming to comfort him they found him sadly weeping and by no meanes could they weane him from that extasie at length the one of them who was priuie to the former nights passage began to compassionate with him and told him hee was sorie for his extreame heauinesse and as knowing the cause sayd No doubt but God was mercifull and wished him not to despaire but bee of comfort and with ghostly counsell persuaded him to take nothing to his heart because hee hoped all would bee well The old man told him hee vnderstood not his meaning but desired him to be more plain that he might know to what purpose his language did inâ—end His neighbour answered him againe Sir I haue beene acquainted with you long haue knowne your continence and strictnesse of life and withall your abstinence from women and I am sorie that your last nights businesse should be the occasion of this melancholly and these teares To whom the sicke but pretily well recouered man thus replyde Neighbour you much mistake the cause of my sorrow I neither greeue nor weepe for the good wholsome phisicke I had the last night but I now vex and torment my selfe that I haue so idly spent mine age there being such a pleasure vpon earth aboue all that I haue hetherto inioyed that I neuer had the grace to know it sooner and trie what it was before this time If then Lust can strike this stroke and haue this efficacie in age ô how much should wee pittie youth readie dayly and hourely to run into this dangerous inconuenience Of these Wantons there bee two sorts Meretrices and Scorta that is Whores and common Women such as either for Lust or Gaine prostitute themselues to many or all The second are Concubina or Pâ—llices Concubines to kings and princes or such as wee call the priuate Mistresses to great men The last are as our Accidence teacheth like Eduardus or Gulielmus proper names to this man or that The first like Homo common to all men both degrees sinners but not in the like kind I haue read of a third sort but know not what consonant or agreeing name to conferre vpon them I haue heard of some that haue beene called honest whores It may bee those that I shall speake of were such and because they are the strangest I will begin with them first Dosithaeus lib. 3. Lydiacorum tells vs that the Sardians hauing commenced warre with the Smyrnaeans inuested themselues before the cittie of Smyrna and hauing begyrt them with a straight and difficult siege those of Sardis it seemes being hot fellowes sent their Embassadors into the citie to this purpose That vnlesse they would send them their wiues to adulterate at their pleasures they would not onely race their citie and leuell it with the earth but kill man woman and child and so extirpe their memorie This message bringing with it not onely terror but horror much perplexed the besieged and betwixt the distractions of perpetuall infamie and most certaine death not able what to determine and hauing sat long in counsaile but nothing amongst them concluded a yong lustie Virago one that was hand-maid or bond-woman to Philarchus desired to be admitted into the Senate And being called in amongst them to know what shee had to say shee told them That vnderstanding to what miserable exigent they were driuen shee had deuised so pleased them to be swayed by her direction a meanes not onely to deliuer themselues from skorne their wiues from dishonor their children from the reproach of bastardie and their liues and goods from spoyle but to subiect the barbarous enemie into their hands with a noble and memorable victorie No maruell if to such a proiect they gaue attention when greedily demanding By what meanes the least of these proposed blessings might be accomplished she thus counsailed them Send saith she to these lustfull Sardinians and tell them you will in all points satisfie their desires At the time appointed let me with the rest of your slaues and vassals be attyred in the habits of our ladies and mistresses for no question being deckt in their ornaments and iewels wee shall appeare not onely free women but sufficiently beautifull Now in the night when we are fast lodged in their embraces and they dreaming of no further dangers than their present delights and that you thinke wee haue sufficiently cooled their hot courages arme your selues against the Sardinians whom if they offer to rise and arme themselues at the Alarme giuen wee will keepe still fast lockt in our armes till what wee haue left of them being naked you your selfe dispatch being armed This counsaile was followed and accordingly tooke effect In memorie of this the Feast called Elâ—theria i. of Free-women is yeerely celebrated in Smyrna in which the maid-seruants attyred in their mistresses habits sit at the Table and are waited on by them whom they attend all the yeare after Aristides Milesius lib. 1. Italicorum parallels this Historie thus Atepomarus king of the Gaules infesting the Romans with warre and hauing compelled them to the like exigent demanded the like horrible conditions of peace namely to adulterate their wiues but being in the same manner aduised by their hand-maids and hauing intelligence giuen them by one Retana the chiefe of that counsaile when the Gaules were sunke in sleepe and lust they set vpon them in the night and gaue them a braue defeat from whence the Feast of the Handmaids tooke beginning which is celebrated amongst the Romans euen to this day A Tale something like vnto these I haue beene told of a Mistresse that in some sort did as much to saue her maids honestie but whether to the same commendable purpose of that I am somewhat doubtfull In some great citie it was I cannot say London that a citisen of good reckoning hauing a faire wife kept diuerse prentices and maid-seruants in his house one of those busie young fellowes had cast a wanton eye vpon her that ruled the rost in the kitchin and longing as much to be in her bookes as out of his time and waiting many nights for opportunitie to find her in some remote place or darke entry it happened that one night hee dogg'd her at the heeles she hearing him to tread softly after her to escape him stept vp a payre of stayres iust as her mistresse came downe The prentice groping in the darke catcht hold vpon his mistresse and without any word speaking began to proportion his worke according to the shortnesse of his time The
braue souldier or of such as perished in Cilicia for the Empire and libertie of whole Greece shee onely hauing perdurable monuments raised to her as well in Babilon as in Athens Temples and Altars with sacrifices offered her by the name of Venus Pythonica With other such vpbraidings he complained on him to Alexander of whom Alexis in Licisca likewise speakes as also that after her death hee tooke to his bed the beforenamed Glicera Next her followers Irene That Ptolomaeus that placed garrisons in Ephesus and was the sonne of king Philadelphos had a beautifull mistresse called Irene she when Ptolomaeus was â—ssaulted by â—he Thracians in the cittie of Ephesus and to shun their violence fled into a Chappell consecrated to the goddesse Diana would not in that distresse forsake him but entred the place together and when the souldiers role open the gates vpon them to kil the king she remoued not her hand from the ring of the doore but with her owne blood sprinkled the altar till the souldiers likewise falling vpon her shee expired in the armes of the slaughtered king As noble was that of Danae Philarchus remembers one Sophron of Ephesus to haue had in his delights Danae daughter to Leontius of the Sect of the Epicures a man well seene in the speculations of Philosophie To her trust were all the domesticke affaires of the house committed euen by the consent of his wife Laodice who at length perceiuing his loue to encline to Danae shee purposed at her next best opportunitie to make away with her husband This being found out by Daâ—ae and in great secrecie reuealed to Sophron he gaue at the first no credit to the report yet at her importunacie hee promised within two dayes to consider of the matter and in that time to deliberate what was best to bee done in the preuention of such a mischiefe and in that interim conceales himselfe in the citie by which Laodice finding her purpose to be discouered she accused Danae for his murther and instantly without further processe by the helpe of her friends and seruants hurryed her to the top of a high Pâ—omontorie from thence to throw her headlong who seeing imminent death before her eyes fetching a deepe sigh she thus said I meruaile 〈◊〉 now that the gods haue so small honour done to them in regard of their iniustice since I am thus punisht for sauing the life of my friend and this Laodice is thus honoured that would haue tooke away the life of her husband Agathoclaea WArres hauing beene long continued betwixt Ptolomey of Aegypt and Antiochâ—s of Syria insomuch that Ptolomaeus was by his embassadors rather by feare than necessitie as it were enforced to sollicite a peace notwithstanding Antiochâ—s inuading Aegypt tooke from him many townes and ciâ—ies of consequence which proffer drawing Ptolomey to the field hee gaue him a braue affront and foyle and had he taken the aduantage of the preseâ—t fortune had payd him home with an irrecouerable ouerthrow but Ptolomy wholly deuoted to effeminacie and luxurie onely contented with what hee had recouered of his owne and pursuing no further aduantages made choyse of a dishonorable peace before a iust warre and so concluded all dissention with an vnalterable league And being free from all forraine invasions he began domesticke troubles at home For being giuen ouer to bâ— owne appetite and beâ—orted to his insatiate pleasures he first began with 〈◊〉 both his sister and wife causing her to be slaine that hee might the more freely enioy the societie and fellowship of his most rare and beautifull mistresse Agaâ—hoclea so that the greatnesse of his name and the splendor of his maiestie both set apart he abandoned himselfe solely to whoredomes by night and to banquets and all profusenesse of riot by day And now libertie being growne to law the boldnesse of the strumpet for no better my Author styles her cannot be contayned within the walls of the kings house which the ouer doâ—agâ— of the king the extraordinarie graces and honoâ—s conferred for her sake on her brother Agathocles together with her owne ambitions growing euery day more and more to greater insolence made still more manifest Next there was her old mother called 〈◊〉 a cunning Hagge I may tearme her who by reason of her double issue Agathocles and Agathoclea had a great hand with the king or rather a great power ouer him Therefore not contented with the king alone they possesse the kingdome also They ride abroad in all state to be seene are proud to be by all saluted and with such great traynes to be attended Agathocles as if sowed to the kings elbow was not seene without him but with a nod or word swayed and gouerned the citie The gifts of all militarie honors as the Tribunes Prefects and Captaines all these were appointed by the women neyther was there any in the kingdome that had lesse power than the king himselfe who long sleeping in this dreame of maiestie hauing giuen away all that was essentiall in a king he fell sicke and dyed leauing behind him a child of fiue yeeres old by his afore-murthered wife and sister Laodice But his death was by these fauorites long concealed whilest they had by all couetous rapine snatched what they might out of the kings treasurie by this to strengthen a faction of the most base and desolate subiects that by mony thus ill got and deboisht souldiers thus leuied they might set safe footing in the Empire but it fell out farre otherwise for the kings death and their dissigne was no sooner discouered but in the rude concourse of the multitude the Minion Agathocles was first slaine and the two women the mother and the daughter were in reuenge of murdered Laodice hanged vpon gybets being now made a skorne to euerie man that was before a terror to all the pupillage of the infant and the safetie of the realme to his vse the Romans most noblie after tooke to their protection Cleophis ALexander the Great after many glorious conquests entring into India that hee might contermine his Empire with the Ocean and the vtmost parts of the East and to which glorie that the ornaments of his armie might suit the trappings of his horses and the armour of his souldiers were all studded with siluer and his maine armie of their Targets of siluer as Curtius writes he caused to be called Argyraspides In processe by gentle and pleasurable marches they came to the cittie Nisa the cittisens making no opposition at all trusting to the reuerence due to Liber Pater by whom they say the cittie was first erected and for that cause Alexander caused it to bee spared passing those fruitfull Hills where grapes grow in aboundance naturally and without the helpe of art or hand of man hee thence passed the Dedalian mountaines euen to the prouinces and kingdome of the queene Cleophis who hearing of his victories and fearing his potencie thought rather to affront
yoake and supplying the place of those beasts drew her in time conuenient vnto the place where the sacred Ceremonies were according to the custome celebrated The Oblations ended and she willing to gratifie their filiall dutie besought of the goddesse That if euer with chast and vndefiled hands she had obserued her Sacrifice or if her sonnes had borne themselues piously and religiously towards her that she would graunt vnto them for their goodnesse the greatest blessing that could happen to any mortall or humane creatures This prayer was heard and the two zealous sonnes drawing backe their mother in her Chariot from the Temple vnto the place where she then soiourned being wearie with their trauaile layd them downe to sleepe The mother in the morning comming to giue her sonnes visitation and withall thankes for their extraordinarie and vnexpected paines and trauaile found them both dead vpon their Pallets by which she conceiued That there is no greater blessing to be conferred vpon man than a faire death when Loue good Opinion and Honor attend vpon the Hearse These I must confesse are worthie eternall memorie and neuer-dying admiration But hath not the like pietie towards their parents beene found in women I answer Yes How did Pelopea the daughter of Thiestes reuenge the death of her father Hypsipile the daughter of Thoas gaue her father life when he was vtterly in despaire of hope or comfort Calciope would not lose her father or leaue him though hee had loâ—t and left his kingdome Harpalice the daughter of Harpalicus restored her father in battaile and after defeated the enemie and put him to flight Erigone the daughter of Icarus hearing of the death of her father strangled her selfe Agaue the daughter of Cadmus slew the king Lycotharsis in Illyria and possest her father of his before vsurped Diademe Xantippe fed her father Nyconus or as some will haue it Cimonus in prison with milke from her breasts Tyro the daughter of Salmoneus to relieue her father slew her owne children Who will be further resolued of these let him search Hyginus And so much shall suffice for filiall dutie towards their Parents Of Sisters that haue beene kind to their Brothers THe Poets and Historiographers to impresse into vs the like naturall pietie haue left diuerse presidents to posteritie Innumerable are the examples of fraternall loue betwixt Brother and Brother To illustrate the other the better I will giue you a tast of some few Volater lib. 14. cap. 2. de Antropo relates how in that warre which Cai. Cornelius Cinna Tribune beeing expelled the citie with Caius Marius and others commenced against the Romans there were two brothers one of Pompeyes armie the other of Cinnaes who meeting in the battaile in single encounter one slew the other but when the Victor came to rifle the dead bodie and found it to be his owne naturall brother after infinite sorrow and lamentation he cast himselfe into the fire where the slaughtered carkasse was burned M. Fabius the Consull in the great conflict against the Hetrurians and Veientians obtained a glorious victorie when the Senate and the people of Rome had with great magnificence and cost at their owne charge prepared for him an illustrious triumph hee absolutely refused that honour because Q. Fabius his brother fighting manfully for his countrey was slaine in that battaile What a fraternall pietie liued in his breast may be easily coniectured who refused so remarkable an honour to mourne the losse of a beloued brother Valer. cap. 5. lib. 5. Wee reade in our English Chronicles of Archigallo brother to Gorbomannus who being crowned king of Brittaine and extorting from his subiects all their goods to enrich his owne Coffers was after fiue yeeres deposed and depriued of his Royall dignitie in whose place was elected Elidurus the third sonne of Morindus and brother to Archigallo a vertuous Prince who gouerned the people gently and iustly Vpon a time beeing hunting in the Forrest hee met with his brother Archigallo whom hee louingly embraced and found such meanes that he reconciled him both to the Lords and Commons of the Realme that done he most willingly resigned vnto him his Crowne and Scepter after hee himselfe had gouerned the Land fiue yeeres Archigallo was re-instated and continued in great loue with his brother reigning ten yeeres and was buried at Yorke after whose death Elidurus was againe chosen king What greater enterchange of fraternall loue 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 bewayled the death of their brother that the gods in commiseration of their sorrow turned them into Trees whose transformations Ouid with great elegancie 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 slaine in battaile shee buried his bodie maugre the contradiction of the Tyrant Creon of whom Ouid Lib. 3. Tristium Fratrem Thebana peremplam Supposuit tumulo rege vetante soror The Theban sister to his Tombe did bring Her slaught'red brothers Corse despight the king Hyas being deuoured of a Lyon the Hyades his sisters deplored his death with such infinite sorrow that they wept themselues to death And for their pietie were after by the gods translated into Starres of whom Pontanus Fratris Hyae quas perpetuus dolor indidit astris Thus you see how the Poet did striue to magnifie and eternize this Vertue in Sisters No lesse compassionat was Electra the daughter of Agamemnon on her brother Orestes and Iliona the issue of Priam when shee heard the death of young Polidore Stobaeus Serm. 42. out of the Historie of Nicolaus de morib gentium sayth That the Aethiopians aboue all others haue their sisters in greatest reuerence insomuch that their kings leaue their succession not to their owne children but to their sisters sonnes but if none of their issue be left aliue they chuse out of the people the most beautifull and warlike withall whom they create their Prince and Soueraigne Euen amongst the Romans M. Aurelius Commodus so dearely affected his sister that being called by his mother to diuide their fathers Patrimonie betwixt them hee conferred it wholly vpon her contenting himselfe with his grandfathers reuenue Pontanus de Liber cap. 11. I will end this discourse concerning Sisters with one Historie out of Sabellicus li. 3. c. 7. the same confirmed by Fulgosius lib. 5. cap. 5. Intaphernes was say they one of those confederat Princes who freed the Persian Empire from the vsurpation of the Magician brothers and conferred it vpon Darius who now being established in the supreme dignitie Intaphernes hauing some businesse with the king made offer to enter his chamber but being rudely put backe by one of the groomes or waiters he tooke it in such scorne that no
deliberation priuately to her selfe which graunted and beeing retyred shee first writ in a short Scedule these words Let none report that the wife of Pandoerus harboured so little loue as to out-line him Which Note leauing vpon the Table she tooke a sword then hanging in the chamber with which she immediately dispatcht her selfe of life and so expired following him in death with whose life shee could be no longer delighted Ibidem Equall in all Matrimoniall pietie with this Ladie was Cecilia Barbadica Veneta who after the death of her husband Philippus Vedraminus by no counsaile comfort or persuasion could be woon either by her kindred or friends to taste the least food whatsoeuer or giue answer to any word that was spoken to her in which silence and consumption shee after some few dayes of vnspeakable sorrow breathed her last Egnat lib. 4. cap. 6. Petrus Candianus after the decease of his first wife espoused a second called Walberta the daughter of Vgon one of the Princes of Italie who liued with him in all obedience with a religious obseruation of true coniugall loue and pietie neuer forsaking him in any disaster but attended him with her young sonne in law Vitalis The Duke her husband being after slaine by the Venetians in a seditious mutinie Vitalis escaped the furie of the Massacre and fled but shee stayed to abide the vtmost danger with the bodie of her dead husband meditating all posible meanes to reuenge the death of her husband vpon the Conspirators but her womannish inabilitie not preuayling shee likewise secretly left the citie and followed her sonne Vitalis in whose societie shee fled to Adeleta the wife of Otho the German Emperour who at the same time resided in the citie Placentia but after long vaine intercession seeing her hopes and purposes quite frustrate she retyred againe to her owne citie where she liued a sad and solitarie life still inuoking the name of Petrus Candianus with whose name in her mouth she not long after deceased Egnat the remembrancer of the former Historie speakes likewise of Franciscus Foscarus another Duke of Venice who married a second wife out of the noble Family of the Nanae with whom he conioynedly liued long and had by her hopefull issue But the Senate in his age depriuing him of the Principalitie with the griefe thereof he retyred himselfe into the most antient house of his owne Family and there after three dayes died Whose bodie when the Fathers would haue had brought forth to a solemne and Princely Funerall because he had once beene their Duke and Soueraigne she shut her gates against them blaming their former ingratitude alledging she had both wealth and will sufficient without them to bestow vpon him the latest rites due to a worthie and royall husband And though the Fathers were instant vpon her first with entreats and after menaces yet she constantly persisted in her resolution not suffering them once to approach the place much lesse to take thence the bodie where she had carefully bestowed it still exclayming on the Senates mallice and the Common-weales ingratitude who to their former wrongs went about to adde this new iniurie not to leaue him in death to her whom they had so periuriously in life forsaken Notwithstanding these exclamations they shut her vp in her chamber and perforce tooke thence the bodie all the Fathers attending vpon the Hearse vpon which they bestowed a solemne and a pompous Funerall The greater their counterfeit sorrow was outwardly the greater was her inward and essentiall griefe still more more weeping euery succeeding day adding to her teares to thinke that her Princely husband should in his death be for any courtesies at all beholding to his enemies desiring that he whom from his Principalitie they had degraded and compelled to a priuate life might onely by her and from her haue had a priuate Funerall with whose choyse affection and rare Coniugall pietie I haue broke off to enter vpon a new Proiect. De Laenis or of Bawdes FRom the honor of Women I now come to the disgrace and shame of their Sex in which I will striue to bee as briefe as I know the verie name to bee to all chast mindes odious Sotades Marionites Cinedus that is one abused against nature or addicted to preposterous Venerie was a Poet and writ most bawdie and beastly Iambicks in the Ionicke tongue which he intituled Cinaedi in which were described the formes and figures of seuerall new deuised Lusts and before that time vnheard-of prostitutions Of whom Martiall thus sayes Nec retro lego Sotadem Cinaedum Neither doe I read Sotades Cinaedus backeward For as Valeterran Lib. 17. Antropoph relates his verses were all to bee read backeward least their included nastinesse might appeare too plaine and palpable Tranquil reports of Tiberius Caesar That hee had built Cellers and Vaults in which all kind of lusts and monstrous congressions were practised in his presence which would offend any modest eare but to heare related The Emperour Domitian succeeded if not exceeded him in those detestable and diuillish abhominations Hee as Suetonius affirmes deuised that which was called Clinopales i. The wrestling in the bed he was often seene to bath himselfe and swimme in the companie of the basest and most common strumpets hee stuprated his brothers daughter yet a Virgin after shee was contracted to another man Cratinus Atheniensis the Comicke Poet was so dissolutely addicted both to Wine and Venerie that hee hung his chamber round with Glasses the better to discouer himselfe in his own vnnatural and beastly prostitutions The like some of our scandalous Grammarians most falsly would asperse vpon Horace Suet. confers the like vpon Tiberius as likewise Gyrald Dial. 6. Historiae Poetarum Elephantis Philaenis and Astianassa writ bookes of the seuerall wayes of Congression with the pictures of them inserted but of them I shall speake further in the title of the Poëtesses but before I come to those shee-monsters in particular I will remember some few men infamous in the like kind Erasmus in Chiliadib speakes of one Clobulus a most wicked He-bawde who kept in his house two most infamous strumpets whose bodyes he prostituted for money to all strangers and what the whoores could not extort from them hee himselfe would robbe them of from whence came the prouerbe Clobuli ingum which was still in vse when two knaues of like dishonestie were seene to haue friendship and socitie together Timaeus apud Erasmun speakes of one Cymarus a Selenusian Bawde who all his lifetime promised to leaue his ill gotten goods to the Temple of Venus in whose seruice he had got them but at his death they were all squandred and lost by the direption of the multitude One Cippius counterfeited himself to sleepe and snort that others with the lesse feare or doubt might haue free intercourse and carnall societie with his wife an argument that hee was not haunted with the fiend called Iealosie
inequalitie of manners Therefore bold and bloodie Tullia poysons 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 lostâ— the worst left They two contract an incestuous Marriage Pride with Crueltie and Immanitie with Ambition Murther is the ground or cause and Treason and Vsurpation the prodigious effect shee complots the death of her owne naturall father and hee the ruine of his liege Lord and Soueraigne shee a Parricide hee a Regicide The king is betwixt them slaine ouer whose dead bodie shee caused her Chariot to be drawne Her cheekes blushed not when the wheeles of her Waggon were stained with her fathers blood And so much to giue Tullia a short character the most insolent of Wiues and the worst of Daughters Of a lower voice softer spirit and more temperate condition were these wiues following Chilonia the wife of Cleombrotus king of Sparta and daughter of Leonides who had before soueranised when in those ciuile combustions the sonne in law had expulsed the father and compelled him into exile shee neuer ceased to importune her husband till shee had called him home from banishment But in processe of time when Fortune had turned her Wheele and Leonides in those dissentions hauing got the better had confined Cleombrotus shee was an hourely intercessor for the repeale of her husband but finding her father to bee obdure and her suit by him not listened too though she might in all pleasure and ease haue happily spent her age in her owne cittie with her father shee rather made choise to be a faithfull companion in all distresses with her husband Fulgos. lib. 6. cap. 7. Anaxandrides the sonne of Leontias marryed with his sisters daughter whom hee exceedingly loued but because shee was barraine and that by her he had no issue the Ephori made suit vnto him to be diuorsed from her and would haue compelled him vnto it but when he had absolutely denied to condiscend with them in that point they made another request vnto him That hee would take vnto him another wife more fruitfull least the most fortunate issue of Euristaeus might in him bee extinguished Hee therefore at their intreaties tooke to him a second wife namely Perinetades the daughter of Demarmenus and so brought her home to his house where which is strange the two women liued together peaceably without emulation or enuie His last wife brought him a sonne whom hee called Cleomenes and not long after his first wife before barraine made him the fortunate father of three sonnes the first Dorieâ—s the second Leonides the third Cleombrotus but Cleomenes the eldest by the second wife succeeded in the Soueraigntie Herodot Lib. 5. Thesca the sister of Dionisius beeing marryed to Polixenus who hauing entred into a Coniuration with other noble gentlemen to supplant the Tyrant but fearing discouerie fled for his best safetie Vpon whose flight Dionisius calls his sister into question as one that must of necessitie be priuie to his escape To whom shee boldly thus answered Thinkest thou ô Dionisius thy sister to be a woman of that seruile and degenerate condition that had shee knowne the least purpose of his retyrement shee would not haue made her selfe a companion in all his Nauigations and Trauaile Erasm. Apotheg Lib. 5. Caius Caligula the Emperour hauing found Herod the husband to Herodias Tetrarch of Galilee engaged in a reuolt from the Empire with Artahanus king of the Parthians amerced him in a great summe of money for that defect and till it was leuied and payed into the Treasurie gaue him in custodie to king Agrippa whom he had found loyall vnto him and in whose fidelitie hee much trusted Hee after banished Herod into Lyons a citie of France with an irreuocable doome of exile imposed vpon him but vnderstanding Herodias to be sister to the wife of Agrippa whom hee much fauoured out of Herods mulct or fine hee proportioned her a large Dower reserued in the hands of Agrippa to her vse as not dreaming shee would haue beene a companion with him in his confinement To which extraordinarie grace from the Emperour shee thus replyed You ô Emperour as best becomes your Maiestie speake like a royall and munificent Prince but the Coniugall Bond of Loue and Pietie in which I am tyed to a husband is to me an impediment that I am not capable of this great Largesse and vnmerited bountie Vnmeet it is that I who haue beene a partaker with him in all his prosperous and flourishing fortunes should now forsake him and not be a companion with him in the worst that disaster or aduersitie can inflict This noble answere Caligula tooke in such scorne and high displeasure to see himselfe in magnanimitie and greatnesse of spirit to be exceeded by a woman that hee banished her with her husband Herod and the bountie before bestowed on her hee conferred vpon her brother in law Agrippa Ioseph in Antiquitatibus Cleomenes the sonne of Anaxandrides and Perinetades but lately spoken of being expulsed from Sparta by Antigonus king of Macedonia fled for refuge to Ptolomeus king of Aegypt whither his wife would haue followed him but dissuaded by her parents notwithstanding a strict guard was set ouer her yet in the night shee beguiled her keepers and hauing prouided a Horse for the purpose posted with all possible speed to the next Port Towne that was least suspected where hyring a shippe with all the Coyne and Iewels shee had then about her shee sayled into Aegypt and there spent the remainder of her dayes with him in his vncomfortable exile Fulgos. lib. 6. cap. 7. I haue but one more gentle Reader to trouble thy patience with at this present Blanca Rubea Patauina the wife of Baptista a Porta betaking her selfe into the same free priuiledged Towne of which Bassianus was then Gouernour and whither her husband for his safetie was retyred in the yeere of our Redemption 1253 when Aâ—â—iolinus the Tyrant hauing lost Padua and bending all his forces to the surprisall of Bassiâ—â—â—â— compassing that at length by fraud and stratagem which by opposition and violence hee could neuer haue accomplished in the entring of which Towne Baptista was slaine and Blanca Rubea being armed and fighting boldly by his side till shee saw him fall was notwithstanding her masculine valour taken prisoner by a souldier and presented to the Tyrant who gazing on her rare feature much more beautified by the rich armour shee then had on grew exceedingly enamoured on this manly Virago and first with faire enticing blandishments hee courted her loue but finding no possibilitie to satiate his libidinous affections that waye where faire meanes fayled hee purposed force which to auoid and to preuent the dishonour intended her shee cast her selfe out from an high Bay-window two stories from the ground where being taken vp halfe dead with much difficultie shee was recouered No sooner was shee well able
least amongst the Magitians as hauing his art or rather diabolicall practise from his father hereditarie confesseth that in all his life time in his great familiaritie and acquaintance amongst them he neuer knew any one that was not in some part mishapen deformed The same Author with whose opinion Wicrius Hippocrates and others assent affirms that all those Demoniacks or Witches after they haue had commerce and congresse with the Deuill haue about them a continuall nastie and odious smell of which by the ancient writers they were called Faetentes by the Vasconians Fetelleres à Faetore i. Of stench insomuch that women who by nature haue a more sweet and refreshing breath than men after their beastly consocietie with Sathan change the propertie of nature and grow horrid putred corrupt and contagious For Sprangerus witnesseth who hath taken the examination of many they haue confessed a thing fearefull to be spoken to haue had carnall copulation with euil and vncleane spirits who no doubt beare the smell of the inâ—isible sulphure about them Now concerning this Magicke what reputation it hath beene in amongst men which in effect is no better than plaine Witchcraft in women we may reade in Nauclerus and Platina That all the Popes inclusiuely from Siluester the second to Gregorie the seuenth were Magicians but Cardinall Benno who obserued all the Bishops that way deuoted numbers but fiue Siluester the second Benedict the ninth Iohn the twentieth and one and twentieth and Gregorie the seuenth Of these Augustinus Onuphrius one of the Popes chamber that from the Vatican and the Liues of the Popes there registred made a diligent collection speakes of two only Siluester the second and Benedict the ninth one of them was after expelled from the Papacie Siluester lying vpon his death bed desired his tongue to be torne out and his hands to be cut off that had sacrifised to the Deuill confessing that he had neuer any inspection into that damnable Art till he was Archbishop of Rhemes These are the best rewards that Sathan bestowes vpon his suppliants and seruants how comes it else so many wretched and penurious Witches some beg their bread some die of hunger others rot in prisons and so many come to the gallowes or the stake It is reported of a gentleman of Mediolanum that hauing his enemie at his mercie held his steeletto to his heart and swore that vnlesse he would instantly abiure his faith and renounce his Sauiour had he a thousand liues he would instantly with as many wounds despoile him of all which the other for feare assenting to and he hauing made him iterate ouer and ouer his vnchristianlike blasphemies in the middle of his horrible abiuration stabd him to the heart vttering these words See I am reuenged of thy soule and bodie at once for as thy bodie is desperate of life so is thy soule of mercie This vncharitable wretch was an apt schollar to the grand Deuill his master who in the like manner deales with all his seruants who after he hath made them renounce their faith blaspheame their maker and do to him all beastly and abhominable adoration such as in their owne confessions shall be hereafter related he not only leaues them abiects from Gods fauour whose diuine maiestie they haue so fearefully blasphemed but deliuers them vp to all afflictions and tribulations of this life and all excruciations and torments in the world to come Horrible and fearefull haue beene the most remarkeable deaths of many of the professors of this diabolicall Art for whom the lawes of man hath spared as a terror to others the hand of heauen hath punished I will onely giue you a tast of some few Abdias Bab. Episcopus lib. 6. Certam Apostol writes That Zaroes and Arphaxad two infamous Magitians amongst the Persians with their exorcismes and incantations deluding the people in the houre when Simon and Iude suffered martyredome were stroke with lightning from heauen and so perisht Lucius Piso in the first booke of his Annals speakes of one Cinops a prince amongst the Magitians who at the prayer of S. Iohn the Euangelist was swallowed vp in a riuer Olaus Magnus lib. 2. cap. 4. de gentib Septentrional tells vs of one Methotis who by his prestigious iuglings had insinuated into the hearts of the people and purchast that opinion and authoritie amongst them that he was called The high and chiefe Priest to the gods who was after torne to peeces by the multitude from whose scattred limbes such a contagion grew that it infected the ayre of which much people perished Hollerus the Magitian was staine Oddo the Dane was besides his skill in Magicke a great pyrat it is written of him Wierius li. 2. ca. 4. that without ship or boat he would make his transmarine passage ouer the Ocean and by his Inchanâ—ments raise stormes to shipwrecke the vessells of his enemies hee was after notwithstanding swallowed in the sea and there most wretchedly perished D. Iohn Faustus borne at Kuneling a Village neere Cracouia was found dead by his bed side his face blasted and turned backward in the Dukedome of Wittenberch at which time the house wherein he died was shaken with a tempest and horrible Earthquake The Earle Matisconensis a practitioner in the same diuellish studie sitting at Dinner amongst many Lords Barons Captaines and others was snatcht from the Boord by Deuils and in the sight and view of all the people three times hurried swiftly round about the citie being heard to cry Succurrite Succurrite i. Helpe Helpe of him Hugo Cluniacensis writes more largely A Priest at Noremberch searching for hidden Treasure in a place where the Deuill had directed him found it guarded by a Spirit in the semblance of a great blacke Dogge in the search of which the Earth fell vpon him and buryed him aliue And this happened in the yeere 1530. Wierius A Magician of Salsburch vndertooke to call all the Serpents together within a mile of the place and bring them into one Pit digged for the purpose in the trayne of which came after the rest a great Serpent supposed to be the Deuill and twining about him cast him in amongst the rest where they together perished The like vntimely deaths wee reade of Appion Grammaticus Iulian Apostata Artephius Robertus Anglicus amongst the Heluetians Petrus Axonensis sirnamed Conciliator Albertus Teutonicus Arnoldus de villa noua Anselmus Parmensis Pycatrix Hispanus Cicchus Ascalus Florentinus and many others Commendable therefore it was in the French king who when one Friscalanus Cenomannus a man excellent in this Science came to shew diuerse prestigious feats and trickes before him for which he expected reward amongst others he caused the Linkes of a Golden Chayne to be taken asunder and remooued them to diuerse remote places of the chamber which came of themselues to one place and were instantly ioyned together as before Which the king seeing and being thereat astonished he commanded him instantly from
Neoptolemus the sonne of Achilles and Deiadamia rap't Lanissa the niece of Hercules Aiax the sonne of Telamon did the like to Tecmessa of whom Horace Mouit Aiacem Telemone satam Forma captiuae dominum Tecmessae Captiue Tecmessas beautiegaz'd vpon Insnar'd her lord the sonne of Telamon Aiax Oilaeus rauished Cassandra Nessus the Centaure Deineira the wife of Hercules sister to Meleager and daughter to Oeneus and Althea king and queene of Calidonâ— Tleoptolemus stole Axiothia from Ephira a citie of Peloponessus hee was the sonne of Hercules and Astioche he was first a suitor to Hellen and came to the siege of Troy with nine shippes and was after slaine by the hand of king Sarpedon Hypodamia the daughter of Atracius and wife of Perithous suffered the like violence by the Centaures being heated with Wine and Lust especially by Euritus of whom Ouid lib. 12. thus speakes Euritus Hyppodamea alij quam quisque probabat Aut poterat rapiunt Euritus rap't Hyppodame and after him the rest By his example did the like and snatcht where they lik't best The great enmitie betwixt the Grecians and Barbarians though it might seeme to arise by reason of the distance of countries and difference of manners yet most probable it is that their inueterate hate and irreconsilable malice tooke first originall from diuerse rapes committed on either part for first the Phoenician Merchanrs exposing their commodities to publique sale in the citie of Argis when Iö the kings daughter amongst other damosells came downe to the Key to take view of what marchandise she best liked to furnish her selfe according to her womanish fancie the Merchants beeing extreamely surprised with her beautie seised both her and the rest of her attendants and stowing them vnder hatches hoised saile and transported them into Aegypt Not long after the Cretenses awaiting the like opportunitie stole away Europa the daughter of the king of the Tyrians and bore her into Creet in requitall of the former rape The Heroes of Greece next sailed in the great Argoe to Cholcos pretending their iourney for the golden fleece and raped thence Medea the daughter of Areta after whom sending Embassadors into Greece to redemand his daughter they returned him answere That the barbarous Phoenicians had made no restitution nor satisfaction at all for the rape of Io neither would they for Medea After that Paris the son of Priam rather to reuenge the iniurie done to his Aunt Hesione than for any loue or affection to Spartan Hellen stole her from Lacedemon and brought her to Troy in Asia The Princes of Greece redemanding her answere was returned That since they made no restitution of Europa nor of Medea nor Hesione neither would they of Hellena which was the originall of that memorable siege of Troy and the destruction of that famous citie Herodotus Lib. 1. Thrasimenes being enamored of the faire daughter of Pisistratus and his affection dayly more and more encreasing he gathered to himselfe a societie of young men and watching the Ladie when shee came with other young damosells to offer sacrifice according to the custome of the countrey by the Seaside with their swords drawne they set vpon the companie that attended her and hauing dispiersed them snatched her vp and hurrying her aboord sailed with her towards Aegina But Hyppias the eldest sonne of Pisistratus beeing then at Sea to cleere those coasts of Pyrats by the swiftnesse of their Ores imagining them to be of the fellowship of the Sea robbers pursued them boorded them and tooke them who finding his sister there brought her backe with the rauishers Thrasimenes with the rest of his faction being brought before Pisistratus not withstanding his knowne austeritie would neither doe him honour nor vse towards him the least submission but with bold and vndaunted constancie attended their sentence telling him That when the attempt was first proposed they then armed themselues for death and all disasters Pysistratus admiring their courage and magnanimitie which showed the greater in regard of their youth called his daughter before him and in the presence of his nobilitie to recompence his celsitude of minde and spirit freely bestowed her vpon Thrasimenes by which meanes he reconciled their opposition and entertained them into new faith and obedience no more expressing himselfe a Tyrant but a louing and bountifull father and withall a popular citisen Polinae lib. 5. The daughters of king Adrastus were rauished by Acesteneutrix as Statius lib. 1. hath left remembred Euenus the sonne of Mars and Sterope married Marpissa daughter to Oenemaus and Alcippa whom Apharetas espying as she daunced amongst other Ladies grew innamoured of and forcibly rapt her from her companie Plutarch in Paral. Hersilia with the Sabine Virgins were likewise rap't by Romulus and his souldiers at large described by Ouid. Lib. de Arte Amandi 1. Lucrece the chast Roman Matron was stuperated by Sextus Tarquinius of whom Seneca in Octauia thus saith Nata Lucreti stuprum saeui passa Tyranni Eudoxia being left by Valentinianus was basely rauished by the Tyrant Maximus who vsurped in the Empire for which shee inuited Gensericus out of Africke to auenge her of the shame and dishonour done vnto her Sigebertus in Chronicis The same Author tells vs of Ogdilo Duke of Boiaria who forced the sister of king Pepin for which iniurie done to her the king opprest him with a cruell and bloudie warre Of Handmaids Nurses Midwiues and Stepdames PLecusa was a Handmaid to Diana whom Martial Lib. 1. thus remembers Et cecidit sectis Icla Plecusa Crinis Lagopice is another Lib. 7. remembred by the same Author Cibale was the maid-seruant to a poore man called Similus remembred by Virgil in Morete Phillis Troiana was the Handmaid to Phoceus as Briseis was to Achilles Plinie Lib. 36. cap. 27. makes Ocrisia the Damosell to the Queene Tanaquil so Horace makes Cassandra to Agamemnon Gyge as Plutarch relates was such to Parysatis Queene of Persia and mother to Cyrus Thressa was maid-seruant to Thales Milesius who as Theodoricus Cyrenensis affirmes when shee saw her maister come home durtie and myrie as being newly crept out of a Ditch chid him exceedingly for gazing at the starres to finde those hidden things aboue and had not the foresight to see what lay below at his feet but hee must stumble Herodotus in Euterpe calls Rhodope the famous Aegyptian strumpet the Handmaid of Iadmon Samiâ—s a Philosopher Elos was a Damosell to king Athamas from whom a great citie in Achaia tooke denomination and was called Aelos Lardana as Herodotus affirmes was at first no better than a seruant from whom the noble Familie of the Heraclidae deriue their first originall Titula otherwise called Philotis was a Roman Virgin of the like condition and is remembred for such by Plutarch in Camillo as also by Macrob. Lib. 1. Saturnalium Proconnesia is remembred
continued their priuate meetings in so much that custome bred impudence and suspition certaine proofe of their incestuous consocietie At length it comes to the eare of him that had contracted her with attestation of the truth thereof he though he feared the greatnesse of Leucippus his knowne valor and popular fauour yet his spirit could not brooke so vnspeakeable an iniurie he acquaints this nouell to his father and certaine noble friends of his amongst whom it was concluded by all iointly to informe Xanthius of his daughters inchastitie but for their owne safetie knowing the potencie of Leucippus to conceale the name of the adulterer They repaire to him and informe him of the businesse intreating his secrecie till he be himselfe eye-witnesse of his daughters dishonor The father at this newes is inraged but armes himselfe with inforced patience much longing to know that libidonous wretch who had dishonoured his familie The incestuous meeting was watcht and discouered and word brought to Xanthius that now was the time to apprehend them he calls for lights and attended with her accusers purposes to inuade the chamber great noise is made she affrighted rises and before they came to the doore opens it slips by thinking to flie and hide her selfe the father supposing her to be the adulterer pursues her and pierceth her through with his sword By this Leucippus starts vp and with his sword in his hand hearing her last dying shreeke prepares himselfe for her rescue he is incountred by his father whom in the distraction of the sodaine affright he vnaduisedly assaulted and slew The mother disturbed with the noise hasts to the place where she heard the tumult was and seeing her husband and daughter slaine betwixt the horridnesse of the sight and apprehension of her owne guilt fell downe sodainely and expired And these are the lamentable effects of Incest the father to kill his owne daughter the sonne his father and the mother the cause of all to die sodainely without the least thought of repentance These things so infortunately happening Leucippus caused their bodies to be nobly interred when forsaking his fathers house in Thessalie he made an expedition into Creet but being repulst from thence by the inhabitants he made for Ephesia where he tooke perforce a citie in the prouince of Cretinaea and after inhabited it It is said that Leucophria the daughter of Mandrolita grew innamored of him and betrayed the citie into his hands who after maried her and was ruler thereof This historie is remembred by Pâ—rthenius de Amatorijs cap. 5. Of incest betwixt the father and daughter Ouid lib. Metam speakes of whose verses with what modestie I can I will giue you the English of and so end with this argument Accipit obscoeno genitor suà ◠viscera lecto Virgeneosque metus leâ—â—t Hortaturque timentem c. Into his obscene bed the father takes His trembling daughter much of her he makes Who pants beneath him ' bids her not to feare But be of bolder courage and take cheare Full of her fathers sinnes loath to betray The horrid act by night she steales away Fraught that came thither emptie for her wombe Is now of impious incest made the Tombe Next to the sinne I will place the punishment Iacob blessing his children said to Reuben Thou shalt be poured out like water thine excellencie is gone because thou hast defiled thy fathers bed Genes 49. Absolon went in to his fathers concubines and soone after was slaine by the hand of Ioab Kings 2.16 18. Of later times I will instance one Nicolaus Estensis Marquesse of Ferrara who hauing notice that his sonne Hugo a toward and hopefull young gentleman had borne himselfe more wantonly than reuerence and modestie required in the presence of his stepmother Parisia of the familie of Malatestae and not willing rashly either to reprooue or accuse them he watcht them so narrowly by his intelligencers and spies that he had certaine and infallible testimonie of their incestuous meetings for which setting aside all coniugall affection or paternall pittie he caused them first to be cast in strict and close prison and after vpon more mature deliberation to be arraigned where they were conuicted and lost their heads with all the rest that had beene conscious of the act Fulgos. lib. 6. cap. 1. I will borrow leaue to insert heare one remarkable punishment done vpon a Iew at Prague in Bohemia in the yeare 1530 who being taken in adulterie with a Christian woman they compelled him to stand in a tonne pitched within they boared a hole in which they forced him to put in that part with which he had offended iust by him was placed a knife without edge blunted for the purpose and there he stood loose saue fastened by the part aforesaid fire being giuen he was forced through the torment of the heat with that edgelesse knife to cut away that pars virilis and ran away bleeding after whom they set fierce mastifes who worried him to death and after tore him to peeces Lychost in Theatro Human. vitae Of Adulterie THe wife of Argento-Coxus Calidonius being tanted by Iulia Augusta because it was the custome of their countrie for the noble men and women promiscuously to mixe themselues together and to make their appointments openly without blushing to her thus answered I much commend the custome of our countrie aboue yours we Calidonians desire consocietie with our equals in birth and qualitie to satisfie the necessarie duties belonging to loue and affections and that publickely when your Roman Ladies professing outward temperance and chastititie prostitute your selues priuatly to your base groomes and vassals The same is reported to haue beene spoken by a Brittish woman Dion Nicaeus Xiphilin in vita seueri Her words were verified as in many others that I could heere produce so in the French Queene Fredigunda who though she infinitly flattered the King Chilpericus her husband outwardly yet she inwardly affected one Laudricus to whom she communicated her person and honour these in the Kings absence were scarce to be found asunder in so much that Chilperick himselfe could not more freely command her person by his power than the other by his loose and intemperate effeminacies It happened the king being on hunting and leauing the Chase before his houre stole suddainely vpon his Queene and comming behind her as shee was taking her Prospect into the Garden sportingly toucht her vpon the head with the Switch hee had then in his hand without speaking shee not dreaming of the kings so suddaine returne and thinking it had beene her priuate friend without looking backe Well sweet-heart Landricus saith shee you will neuer leaue this fooling and turning towards him withall discouered the king who onely biting his lippe departed in silence Shee fearing the kings distaste and consequently his reuenge sends for Landricus and as if the king had beene the offendor betwixt them two conspired his death and within few
settled an enmitie against all Vices your publike enemies as hee did against the Persians the forraine inuaders you shall vndoubtedly after the Battaile of the Mind constantly fought against all barbarous temptations be ranked equall with him in all his triumphs It is likewise recorded of Isaus an Assyrian Sophist who in his youth being giuen to all voluptuousnesse and effeminate delicacies but comming to riper vnderstanding assumed to himselfe a wonderous continencie of life and austeritie in all his actions insomuch that a familiar friend of his seeing a beautifull young woman passe by and asking him If shee were not a faire one To him hee answered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. Desij laborare de oculis i. I am no more sicke of sore eyes To another that demanded What Fish of Fowle was most pleasant to the taste hee replyed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. I haue forgot to looke after them and proceeded I perceiue that I then gathered all my Fruits out of the Garden of Tantalus insinuating vnto vs that all those vaine Pleasures and Delights of which Youth is so much enamored are nothing else but shadowes and dreames such as Tantalus is said to be fed with Of seuerall degrees of Inchastities and of their Punishments PHilip of Macedon making warre against the Thebans Aeropus and Damasippus two of his cheefe captaines had hyred a mercenarie strumpet and kept her in one of their tents which the king hearing he not onely cashiered them from their commaunds but banished them his kingdome Polynaeus lib. 4. In Germanie Chastitie and Modestie is held in that reuerent respect that no meane Artificer though of the basest trade that is will entertaine a Bastard into his seruice or teach him his science neither in the Accademies will they permit any such to take degree in schooles though it be a strange seueritie against innocent children who gaue no consent to the sinnes of their parents yet it is a meane to curbe the liberties of men and women deterring them from the like offences Aeneus Siluius lib. 1. of the sayings and deeds of king Alphonsus tells vs of one Manes Florentinus who being taken in forbidden congression with a strumpet was adiudged to pennance which was not altogether as our custome in England is to stand in a white sheete but naked all saue a linnen garment from his wast to his knees after the fashion of Bases the Priests comming to strip him in the Vestrie would haue put vpon him that roabe to couer his shame which hee no way would admit but was constantly resolued to stand as our phrase is starke naked but when the church officers demanded of him If he were not ashamed to shew his virile parts in such a publike assemblie especially where there were so many Virgins married Wiues and widow Women he answered Minime gentium nam pudenda haec quae peccauerunt ea potissimum dare panas decet i. By no meanes quoth he most fit it is that those shamefull things that haue offended and brought me to this shame should likewise doe open penance Pontius Offidianus a knight of Rome after he had found by infallable signes his daughters virginitie to be dispoyled and vitiated by Fannius Saturnius her schoole-maister was not content to extend his iust rage vpon his seruant and punish him with death but hee also slew his daughter who rather desired to celebrat her vntimely exequies than follow her to her contaminated Nuptialls Val. lib. 6. cap. 1. Pub. Attilius Philiscus notwithstanding in his youth hee was compelled by his master to prostitute his owne bodye to vnnaturall lusts for bruitish and vnthriuing gaine yet after prooued a seuere father for finding his daughter to haue corrupted her virginall chastitie hee slew her with his owne hand How sacred then may wee imagine and conceiue puritie and temperance was held in Rome when such as had professed base prostitution in their youth became iudges and punishers therof euen vpon their owne children in their age Val. Max. lib. 6. c. 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 campe at Algidus that he suborned a seruant of his to seise her 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 iudge The father being certified of these proceedings by Icilius a hopefull young gentleman before contracted vnto her leauing his charge abroad repaires to the citie and appearing before the iudgement seat sees his owne lawfull daughter taken both from himselfe and betrothed husband and conferred vpon another as his slaue and bondwoman The iudgement being past he desires leaue to speake with his daughter apart it was granted him by the Court who slew her with his owne hand then taking vp her bodie and lifting it vpon his shoulders posted with that lamentable burden to the campe and incited the souldiers to reuenge Liuie Volater lib. 14. cap. 2. Antropol Quintus Fabius Seruilianus hauing his daughters chastitie in suspition first deliuered her to death and after punished himselfe with voluntarie banishment The punishment of these inchastities is by the Poets to the life illustrated in the fable of Titius the sonne of Terra who intending to stuperate Latona was by Apollo slaine with an arrow and being thrust down into Hell and chained to a rocke his Liuer and Heart is perpetually tyred on by a rauenous Vulture who still renewes his inceasible torments Virgill lib. Aeneid 6. vnder the person of Titius would pourtray vnto vs the vnquiet conscience which though sometimes it may be at a seeming peace yet the torment by beeing still renewed dayly increaseth and gnawes the heart-strings of all such persons as to themselues are guiltie Of Witches and the Punishment due to them VIncentius cites this following Historie from Guillerimus in Specul Histor. lib. 26. cap. 26. which also Iohannes Wyerius Ranulphus and others commemorats an English woman that dwelt at a towne called Barkley in England being a Witch yet not being much suspected liued in indifferent good opinion amongst her neighbours and beeing feasting vpon a time abroad and wonderous pleasant in companie shee had a tame crow which she had brought vp that would be familiar with her and sit vpon her shoulder and prate to her in the best language it could she at this feast the Table being readie to be drawne sported with her which spake to her more plainely than it vsed some wordes which shee better than the rest of the companie vnderstood at which suddenly her knife dropped out of her hand her colour changed the blood forsooke her cheâ—kes and shee looked pale readie to sinke downe and fetching some inward suspires and grones shee at length broke forth into this language Woe is mee my plow is now entred into the last furrow for this day I shall heare of some great