of diuerse other women for diuerse noble actions Illustrious Dominica the wife of the Emperour Valens when the Gothes had threatned the vtter subuersion of Constantinople by her wisedome and descretion mediated with the enemie was the sole means of the safetie both of the people and citie Sex Aurelius reports of Pompeia Plautina when hir husband Iulian the Emperor had with intollerable exactions oppressed the people insomuch that their discontents were readie to breake out into rebellion this vertuous princesse so farre temporised with the Emperour that by her meanes they were released from all exactions and tributes Diaconus makes mention of Placidia the sister and wife of Honorius who in the yeare 412 when Ataulphus king of the Gothes presented himselfe with an inuincible armie before the walls of Rome threatning vtterly to subuert the cittie and after rebuild it againe and in steede of Rome to call it Gothia so wrought with the barbarous king by persuasions and promises that she turned his pride to pitie and his immanitie to mercie so that he departed thence without any assault made against the cittie or the least spoile done vnto the countrey Vollateranus speakes of Inguldis the sister of Childebert who being marryed to Hermogillus sonne to Lemigildus king of the Gothes persuaded her husband then an infidell to bee a true and constant professour of the Christian faith The like we reade of Cleotilda queene of France who did the like good worke vpon her husband Clodoncus the sonne of Childericke Nor hath our owne nation beene barreine of good examples since Helena the mother of Constantine may in that kind claime equalitie if not precedencie before any As Rome affoorded a Volumnia mother to Martius Cariolanus so England yeelded as eminent a Ladie in all points the mother to Brennus and Belinus The first when her sonne had worthilie deserued of his countrie euen to the attaining of all militarie honours and as an addition to the rest for his braue seruice against the cittie of Coriolorus had the denomination of Coriolanus bestowed vpon him by the publique sufferage of the Senat yet notwithstanding for all his merites and vnmatchable exploits by which he purchased to himselfe the honor to be called Pater Patriae yet after by the ingratefull multitude who were euer emulous of any mans deserued greatnesse hee was not onely degraded from all his titles of dignitie but had the doome of euerlasting banishment denounced against him in reuenge of which ingratitude hauing raised an armie and inuaded the townes of the Roman empire readie to inuest himselfe before the quaking and affrighted cittie when they had first sent to him to make their attonement their priests who by reason of their sacred offices were held in much reuerence next their Augurers and South-sayers then the Aeditiae which were the keepers of their Temples and last their prophets but none of these preuailing as their last refuge the Roman matrons presented themselues before Volumnia the mother of Martius humblie intreating her to make intercession betwixt her sons rage and the imminent calamitie This reuerent Ladie mooued with their teares and acclamations accompanied with Virgilia the wife of Coriolanus and many other noble matrons and damosells hauing before promised to plead in their behalfes as farre as a miserable mother could claime interest in an iniured sonne repaired to his tent and casting themselues downe at his feete humblie besought him of compassion the feare exprest in their faces and the sorrow in their habits cast vpon the enemy a sudden reuerence and silence when Volumnia with such feeling accents and moouing Oratorie mixed with teares besought the peace of the cittie that they made a reuerent impression in the heart of Coriolanus who supporting his mother and aduancing his wife from the earth brake out into this extasie Vicistis You haue ouercome me Thus by these excellent women all combustions of warre were appeased a threatned misery preuented and a generall and safe peace setled in the Commonweale Of no lesse remarke was the wife of Mulmutius Dunwallo the sonne to Cloten duke of Cornwall who as Fabian remembers of him hauing in great peace and tranquilitie gouerned the kingdome for the space of fortie yeres and was after buried in a place by him before erected cald the Temple of peace leauing the land equally deuided betwixt his two sonnes Belinus and Brennus to Belinus the elder was allotted England Wales and Cornewall vnto Brennus all the North parts beyond Humber who being a young man and desirous of honour not content with the principalitie appointed him commenced against Belinus a fearefull war But as the two brothers were readie to ioyne battaile the mother presented herselfe betwixt the armies exposing her bodie to their opposit weapons shewing the breasts that gaue them sucke and with noble admonitions and motherlie persuasions so molified the hearts of the incensed princes that all ciuill and seditious warre layd aside they entered a friendly and brotherly league which was so established in the reuerent vertues of the mother that it was neuer after violated in all their life times after With what condigne honours is queene Marcia's memorie worthie to be celebrated who being the wife to Guinthelinus king of Britaine the sonne of Gurgunscius was in those daies of that excellent learning and knowledge that she deuised many profitable and wholsome lawes to the benefit of the Common-wealth which were much esteemed amongst the Brittaines and carefully obserued being cald after her name The Mercean laws many ages insuing But being loath to instance too many to one purpose least I should rather seeme tedious than delightfull to the reader I will adde onely one English lady in another kind memorable and worthy for her goodnes an euerlasting character There was a noble man of England created Earle of Couentrie this man was so austere to the citisens that he had iniuriously wrested from them all their ancient franchises and priuiledges insomuch that by his oppressions insufferable exactions the cittie was much decaied the people disabled in their power and weakened in their fortunes These petitioned to the Countesse a noble and well disposed lady to mediate for them to the Earle That their customes and former liberties might be restored The lady vndertakes their suit and with much importunitie solicited her lord in their behalfe but he being of a haughtie and insolent disposition stil persisted immoueable but she commiserating their estate as daily mooued with their complaints without cessation still sollicited for them and with such vrgence that he had neither peace at boord nor quiet in bed he at length as much wearied with her importunitie as she tired with their petitions she wrested from him this churlish and indeffinite answer Cease Lady further to persuade me for I protest and that with an vnaltered resolution that there is but one onely meanes by which their franchises are to be recouered which
against all Law or Iustice to behold me against reason or modestie naked Gyges at these words was first wonderously amazed but after recollecting himselfe entreated her not to compell him to so hard an exigent as to the choyse of eyther But finding that necessitie that he must be forced to one or the other to kill the king or to be slaine by others he rather made choyse to suruiue and let the other perish and thus answered her Since generous Ladie you vrge me to an enterprise so much opposite to my milder nature and disposition propose some safe course how this may be done Euen sayth she in the selfe-same place where he deuised this mischiefe against himselfe namely his bed-chamber where to thee I was first discouered Therefore prouiding all things necessarie for so determinate a purpose and the night comming on Gyges who knew no euasion but to kill his maister or dye himselfe awaited his best aduantage and hauing notice when Candaules was asleepe followed the queene into her chamber and with a Ponyard by her prouided for the purpose stabbed him to the heart by which hee attayned both the queene and kingdome Of this historie Archilochus Parius makes mention in his Iambicks who liued about the same time affirming That Gyges was by the Oracle of Delphos confirmed in the kingdome after the Faction of the Heraclides had opposed his soueraigntie Rowan and Estrilda ROwan was a maid of wonderfull beautie and pleasantnesse daughter to Hengest a captaine of the Saxons Of this Ladie Vortiger then king grew so enamored that for her sake hee was diuorced from his wife by whom hee had three sonnes for which deed the greatest part of the Brittaines forsooke him therefore hee by the instigation of Rowan still caused more and more Saxons to be sent for vnder pretence to keepe the Land in subiection But the Brittaines considering the dayly repayre of the Saxons came to the King and told him the danger that might ensue entreating him whilest it waâ— yet time and to preuent a future miserie to expell them the Land But all in â—aine for Vortiger was so besotted in the beautie of his faire wife by whose counsaile he was altogether swayed that he would in no wise listen to the counsaile of his subiects Wherefore they with one vnited consent depriued him of his Crowne and dignitie making Vortimerus his eldest sonne king in his stead Who was no sooner crowned but with all expedition he raysed an armie and pursued the Saxons and in foure maine battailes besides conflicts and skirmishes became victorious ouer them The Saxons and their insolencies thus supâ—â—est and the king now gouerning the Land in peace after he had reigned seuâ—â— yeeres was by this Rowan in reuenge of the disgrace done to her king deposed and her countreymen disgraced most trecherously poysoned Locrin the eldest sonne of Brute chased the Hunnes which inuaded the realme of England and so hotely pursued them that many of them with their king were drowned in a riuer which parteth England and Scotland and after the name of the king of the Hunnes who there perished the riuer is to this day called Humbar This king Locrin had to wife â—â—â—â—doline a daughter of Coriâ—eus duke of Cornwall by whom he had a sonne calâ—â—d Madâ—n He kept also a Paramour called the beautifull Ladie Estrilda by whom hee had a daughter called Sabrina Locrine after the death of Corineus of whom he stood in awe diuorsed himselfe from his lawfull wife and tooke to his embraces his faire concubine mooued with this iniurie Guendoline retired herselfe into Cornewall where she gathered a great power fought with her husband slew him in battaile and after caused him to be buried in Troy-nouant That done she caused the faire Estrilda with her daughter Sabrina to be drowned in a riuer that which parts England and Wales which still beares the name of the yong Virgin and is called Seuerne These her dessignes accomplished for so much as Madun her yong sonne was but in his pupillage and not of capacitie or age to gouerne the Land by the common sufferage of all the Brittons she was made Protectoresse and Ladie Regent of the kingdome which to the comfort of the subiects and the weale of the kingdome she discreetly gouerned for the space of fifteene yeares and therefore her memorie might fitly haue beene rancked amongst the most Illustrious women Her sonne comming to age and yeares of discretion shee to him resigned the Scepter The Faire ladie of Norwich ANd now because wee traffique altogether with Historie it shall not bee amisse sometimes to mingle Seria Iocis as shall appeare by this discourse which I haue often heard related A knight both of same and memorie and whose name is still vpon record beeing eminent and of note with Henrie the fift as personally with him in all the warres in France after the king had both conquered and quieted the Land this noble Englishman retyred himselfe into his countrey He had a Ladie that was of such beautie that she attracted the eyes of all beholders with no common admiration in briefe I cannot speake of her feature sufficiently as being farre beyond the compasse of my penne and therefore I put her into the number of my Faire ones This ladie with her husband residing in the cittie of Norwich He after so many troubles and torments purposed a more sequestred life and next the solace he had in the beautie and vertues of his wife to take a course meerely contemplatiue and thought out of the aboundance of his wealth to doe some pious deeds for the good of his soule hee therefore erected in the cittie and neere to the place where his house stood a goodly Church at his owne charge and betwixt them a Religous house that entertained twelue Friers and an Abbot allowing them demeanes competent for so small a brother-hood In this couent there were two Frier Iohn and Frier Richard these were still at continuall enmitie and especiall notice taken of it amongst the rest which by no mediation could be truely reconciled but omitting that it was custome of the knight and his ladie dayly to rise to morning Mattins and she being affable and courteous to all it bred a strange inciuile boldnesse in Frier Iohn for she neuer came through the cloyster but he was still with duckes and cringes attending her which she suspecting nothing simply with modest smiles returned thankes to him againe which grew so palpable in the Frier that as farre as they durst it was whispered in the couent Briefly after these incouragements as he constered them it bred in him that impudencie that he presumed to write a letter to her in which he layde open a great deale of more than necessarie loue This letter with great difficultie came to her hand at which the ladie astonished as not dreaming that such leaudnesse should come from one that professed chastitie and not knowing whether it might be a tricke
early to attend the king who was that day to bee entertained by the earle his father in law All things were noblie prouided and Edgar royally receiued and set to dinner some write that Ethelâ—old had caused a kitchin maid to put on his wiues habit and sit at the kings Table but I find no such matter remembered in my Author the truth is the king about the middest of dinner cald for the Earle Orgarus and demanded of him whether he had a wife or no if he had why he might not haue her companie knowing it was a generall obseruation in England that without the wiues entertainement there could be no true and heartie welcome The earle replied that at that time he was an vnhappie widdower he then demaunded whether he had any children to continue his posteritie to which he answered heauen had onely blest him with one daughter a plaine damosell yet the sole hope of his future memorie The king was then importunate to see her and commanded her to be instantly brought vnto his presence which put Ethelwold into a strange agonie yet still hoping she had done as hee had late inioyned her when shee contrarie to his expectation came in apparelled like a bride in rich and costly vestures her golden haire fairely kembed and part hanging downe in artificiall curles her head stoocke with jewells and about her neck a chaine of diamonds which gaue a wonderous addition to that beautie which naked of it selfe without any ornament was not to bee paraleld a contrarie effect it wrought in the king and her husband To Edgar she seemed some goddesse at least a miracle in nature to Ethelwold in regard of his feare a furie or what worse hee could compare her to O fraile woman in this one vanitie to appeare beautifull in the eyes of a king thou hast committed two heinous and grieuous sinnes Adulterie and Murder for accordingly it so fell out Edgar was as much surprised with her loue as incensed with hate against her lord both which for the present he dissembled neither smiling on the one nor frowning on the other In the afternoone the king would needes hunt the stagge in the forrest of Werwelly since called Hoore-wood In the chace by the appointment of Edgar Earle Ethelwold was strooke through the bodie with an arrow and so slaine the king after made Elfritha his bride and queene The Earle had a base sonne then present at the death of his father of whom the king asked how hee liked that manner of hunting to whom he answered Royall sir what seemeth good to you shal be to me no way offensiue from that time forward he was euer gratious with the king And Elfritha thinking to make attonement with heauen for the murder of her husband or rather as Ranulphus saith for causing Edward to whom she was step-mother to be slaine that her owne sonne Egelredus might raigne builded an Abbie for Nunnes at Worwell where she was after buried Gunnora IN the time that Agapitus was Pope Lewis king of Fraunce the sonne of Charles caused William Longa Spata the second duke of Normandie to bee treacherously slaine this William was sonne to Rollo The Lords of Normandie with this murder much insenced watched their aduantage and surprised the king in Rhothemage where they committed him to safe custodie till he had promised and sworne to yeeld vp Normandie to Richard sonne and immediate heire to William the late murdered duke and moreouer in what place soeuer the king and the yong duke should haue meeting to conferre that Richard should weare his sword but king Lewis neither to haue sword nor knife about him This Richard being yong was called Richard the Old he had besides another attribute giuen him which was Richard without Feare because he was neuer known to be dismayde at any thing but a third aboue these was that he pretended to be wonderous religious He was duke two and fiftie yeares and tooke a Ladie to his bed from Denmarke whose name was Gunnora by whom he had fiue sonnes and two daughters the eldest of which was married to Etheldredus king of England her name was Emma and shee was called the flower of Normandie Concerning this bold yet religious duke it is reported by Marianus lib. 2. Henricus Ranulphus and others that besides many other testimonies of his sanctitie this one made him most eminent A Monke of Andoenus in Rothomage a town in Normandie going one night to meete with his sweet heart his way lay ouer a bridge and vnder that bridge was a deepe foord or riuer it so happened that mistaking his footing hee fell into the water and there was drowned He was no sooner dead but there came to carrie away his soule an Angell and a Fiend these two contended about it the one would haue it so would the other great was the controuersie betwixt them at length they concluded to put the case to duke Richard both to stand to his arbitrement much pleading there was on both sides at length the duke gaue sentence That the soule should be restored againe to the bodie be placed againe vpon that bridge from whence he had falne and if then he would offer to goe from thence to his sweet heart the diuell should take him but if otherwise he because he was a Church-man should be still in the Angels protection This was done and the Monke left his way to the woman and fled to the church as to a sanctuarie whether the duke went the next day and found the Monkes clothes still wet and told the Abbot euerie circumstance as it fell out therefore the Monke was shriuen did penance was absolued and reconciled This I haue read which I persuade no man to beleeue This duke liued with the faire Gunnora long time dishonestly and without marriage had by her those children aforesaid but at length by the persuasion of the nobilitie and intercession of the cleargie he tooke her to wife The first night after the marriage when the duke came to her bed she turned her backe towards him which she had neuer done till that time at which hee maruelling demaunded of her the reason why she did so To whom she answered before I was your strumpet and therfore as a seruant was tide to doe your pleasure in althings but now I am your wife and made part of your selfe therefore henceforth I claime with you an equall soueraigntie and will doe what mee list bearing my selfe now like a princesse not like a prostitute This I am easily induced to beleeue for how soone do honoures change manners Iuuenall in his sixt Satire speaking of marriage thus sayth Semper habet lites aeternaque iurgia lectus c. The marriage bed is sildome without strife And mutuall chidinges hee that takes a wife Bargaines for mightie trouble and small rest Sleepe growes a stranger then whilest in her brest She lodgeth Passion Selfe-will Anger Feare And from her eyes drops many a
that cause many women in their modestie rather suffered themselues to perish for want of helpe than that any man should bee seene or knowne to come about them Aboue all the Athenians were most curious that no seruant or woman should learne the art of Chyrurgerie There was a damosell of that cittie that was verie industrious in the search of such mysteries whose name was Agnodice but wanting meanes to attaine vnto that necessarie skill she caused her haire to be shorne and putting on the habit of a yong man got her selfe into the seruice of one Heirophilus a Phisitian and by her industrie and studie hauing attained to the deapth of his skill and the height of her own desires vpon a time hearing where a noble ladie was in child-birth in the middest of her painfull throwes she offered her selfe to her helpe whom the modest Ladie mistaking her Sex would by no persuasion suffer to come neere her till she was forced to strip her selfe before the women and to giue euident signes of her woman-hood After which shee had accesse to many proouing so fortunate that she grew verie famous In so much that being enuied by the colledge of the Phisitians shee was complained on to the Ariopagitae or the nobilitie of the Senat such in whose power it was to censure and determine of all causes and controuersies Agnodice thus conuented they pleaded against her youth and boldnesse accusing her rather a corrupter of their chastities than any way a curer of their infirmities blaming the matrons as counterfeiting weakenesse onely of purpose to haue the companie and familiaritie of a loose and intemperate yong man They prest their accusations so farre that the Iudges were readie to proceede to sentence against herâ— when shee opening her brest before the Senat gaue manifest testimonie that she was no other than a woman at this the Phisitians the more incenst made the fact the more henious in regard that being a woman she durst enter into the search of that knowledge of which their Sex by the law was not capable The cause being once more readie to goe against her the noblest matrons of the cittie assembled themselues before the Senat and plainely told them they were rather enemies than husbands who went about to punish her that of all their Sex had beene most studious for their generall health and safetie Their importancie so farre preuailed after the circumstances were truely considered that the first decree was quite abrogated and free libertie granted to women to imploy themselues in those necessarie offices without the presence of men So that Athens was the first cittie of Greece that freely admitted of Mid-wiues by the meanes of this damosell Agnodice Of Women that suffered Martyrdome ANd of these in briefe Corona was a religious woman who suffered martyrdome vnder the tyrannie of Antonius the Emperour Her death was after this manner she was tyde by the armes and legges betwixt two trees whose stiffe branches were forced and bowed downe for the purpose the bowes being slackned and let loose her bodie was tost into the ayre and so cruelly dissâ—uered limbe from limbe Anatholia a Virgin by the seuere commaund of Faustinianus the President was transpierst with a sword Felicula as Plutarch witnesseth when by no persuasion or threats promises or torments she could be forced to renounce the Christian Faith by the command of Flaccus Comes shee was commanded to be shut vp in a Iakes and there stifled to death Murita had likewise the honour of a Martyr who being banished by Elphedorus a certaine Arrian opprest with cold and hunger most miseraby died Hyrene the Virgin because shee would not abiure her faith and religion was by Sisimmius shot through with an arrow The like death suffered the martyr Christiana vnder Iulian the Apostata Paulina a Roman Virgin and daughter to the Prefect Artemius was with her mother Candida stoned to death by the commaund of the tyrant Dioclesian Agatho virgo Catanensis was strangled in prison by the command of the Consâ—ll Quintianus Theodora a Virgin of Antioch was beheaded by the tyrannie of Dioclesian Iulia Countes of Eulalia suffered the same death vnder the President Diaconus Margaritu a maide and a martyr had her head cut off by Olibrius Zoâ— the wife of Nicostratus was nayled vnto a crosse and so ended her life partly with the torture of the gybbet and partly with the smoke that the executioner made at the foot of the gallowes suffocated Iulia Carthagensis because she would not bow to Idolls and adore the false heathen gods but was a constant professor of the true Christian faith was martyred after the selfe same manner Emerita the sister of Lucius king of England who had the honour to be called the first Christian king of this countrie shee suffered for the Faith by fire Alexandria was the wife of Dacianus the President who being conuerted to the Faith by blessed saint George was therefore by the bloodie murderer her husbands owne hands strangled Maximianus the sonne of Dioclesian with his owne hands likewise slew his naturall sister Artemia because that forsaking all Idolatrie shee prooued a conuertite to the true Christian Faith Flauia Domicilla a noble Ladie of Rome was banished into the Isle Pontia in the fifteenth yeare of the raigne of Domitian for no other reason but that shee constantly professed her selfe to bee a Christian. These two following suffered persecution vnder Antonius Verus in France Blondina who is sayd to wearie her tormentors patiently induring more than they could malitiously inflict in so much that before shee fainted they confessed themselues ouercome she readie still to suffer and beare when they had not blows to giue for as oft as she spake these words I am a Christian neither haue I committed any euill she seemed to the spectators of her martyrdome to bee so refreshed and comforted from aboue that she felt no paine or anguish in the middest of her torture and in that patience she continued without alteration euen to the last gaspe Biblis one that before through her womanish weakenesse had fainted for feare of torments comming to see her with others executed was so strengthened to behold their constancie that as it were awakened out of her former dreame and comparing those temporall punishments which lasted but a moment with the eternall paines of Hell fire gaue vp her selfe freely for the Gospels sake Dionisius in an Epistle to Fabius Bishop of Antioch reckons vp those that suffered martyrdome vnder Decius the Emperour Quinta a faithfull woman was by the Infidels brought into a Temple of their Idolls vnto which because she denied diuine adoration they bound her hand and foot and most inhumanly dragged her along the streets vpon the sharpe stones but when that could not preuaile with her they beat her head and sides and bruised them against Mill-stones that done shee was pitiously scourged and lastly bloodily executed The same Lictors layd hands on Appolonia a Virgin
was slaine in the battaile after much sorrow for his death sitting in her owne house and spying him vnexpectedly comming towards her safe and in health she was so ouercome with sudden ioy that not able to rise and giue him meeting she died as she sate in her chaire Most strange it is that ioy should make speedier way to death than sorrow these mothers Zoe remembered by Valerius Maximus lib. 9. cap. 12. So much I hope shall suffice for women that haue died strange deaths for I had rather heare of many to liue well than that any one should die ill I onely intreate patience of the curteous Reader that as I haue begun this booke in sadnesse so he will giue me leaue to conclude it in jest Some no doubt though not iustly will taxe me for my too much intermixtion of historie and say there bee many things inserted not pertinent to my proiect in hand which might better haue beene left out than put in They in my conceit doe but dally with me and put such a tricke vpon me as gentleman did vpon a countrey hosteler My Tale is but homely but it hath a significant Morrall This traueller often vsing to a thorowfare Inne was much annoyed by reason that betwixt his chamber and the stable where he commonly vsed to see his horse drest and meated there lay great heapes of â—ullenâ— dounge in 〈◊〉 way which much offended him and being willing either to be rid of thâ—â— inconuenience or punish him that might remedie it hee tooke occasion to aske the hosteler what dounghill that was which was so offensiue Hee answered him his master kept great store of pullen about the house and that was all Hennes doung Hennes doung saith the gentleman I haue a peece of land at home I would it were all there if thou canst helpe me to any quantitie of it being sure that it is such I will giue thee twentie shillings a loade for as much as thou canst prouide and fetch it away with mine owne carriage The fellow hearing this promised within a moneth to furnish him with twentie loade at least at the same price The match was made and the gentleman after breakefast tooke horse and departed The hosteler bespeakes all such soyle as the Towne could affoord or the next Villages by and made such a huge heape as annoyed the whole yard knowing the gentleman to haue beene euer a man of his word who came according to the time appointed The hosteler is glad to see him and tells him he hath prouided him of his commoditie and withall brings him to the place where it lay like a laysâ—all The gentleman seemes wondrous glad of this new merchandise and drawes out certaine peeces out of his pocket as if he meant to giue him present payment but withall asked him Art thou sure all this is Hens-doung vpon my life it is saith the hosteler expecting still to finger the gold But replyde the gentleman art thou sure there is no cockes doung amonst it ô lord yes saith the hosteler how can it be else why then quoth the gentleman I pray thee make thy best of it good friend for if there be the least cockes doung amongst it it will doe me no pleasure I will not giue thee three farthings for it all Thus was the hosteler notwithstanding his former cost forced to remooue all that muckhill and make the yard cleane at his owne charge with much addition of mockerie and laughter If for a little quantitie of cockes doung you cauell at all the rest here included the better judgements I hope will impute it as to my simplicitie so to your ouer curiositie Another maine thing is to be feared wherein I must of force incurre the censure of some or other namely Why amongst prophane histories I haue inserted Martyres and to confirme their truth haue brought Authors that haue beene held superstitious I answere to all in generall I haue onely specified such things as I haue read and for mine owne opinion I keepe it reserued But because I now come to a conclusion I will end this booke thus briefly in regard that women die and so many die and that they die at all I will giue you a womans reason why it is so Because they can liue no longer Explicit lib. quartus Inscriptus MELPOMENE THE FIFTH BOOKE inscribed TERPSICHORE Intreating of Amazons and other Women famous either for Valour or for Beautie A Question may be demanded Why vnder the Muse Terpsichore I personate the Bold and the Beautifull the Warrelike and the Faire she being the Muse to whom measures and daunces are solely peculiar as being of them the onely and first inuentresse I answer and I hope not impertinently that considering euery circumstance I know not how to commend them to a more fit Mecaenas or Patron for of what doth all your martiall discipline consist but vpon time number measure distance and order and all these in Choreis Tripudijs i. daunces especially are obserued In daunces we keepe time to the musicke so in marching or drilling our eares are attentiue to the voice of the captaine or generall In the figures of the one and files of the other number is necessarily obserued so is measure distance and order for in these they haue an equall correspondence Now concerning faire women whom in all Maskes at the Court Cittie or elsewere doe your gallants picke out but the virgins or Ladies most beautifull nay euen at Wakes or weddings in the countrie the fairest lasse is continually called out to daunce be it but to the harpe taber or bag-pipe Amongst the souldiers were celebrated the Pirhick daunce in armour first instituted by king Pyrrhus of Epire so likewise the Matachine or sword daunce what measures haue beene deuised for the exercise of faire Ladies Custome deriued from all Antiquitie still makes frequent amongst vs. It was vsed amongst the Iewes witnes Herodias and is still continued in Spaine Fraunce and England A second doubt is whether the magnanimous or the exquisitly featured whether Fortitude or Pulcritude ought to haue precedence and first place It is a maxime amongst the Phisitions Plus necat gula quam gladius i. surfets haue beene the destruction of more men than the sword so I am of opinion That beautie hath beene the ruine of more citties the depopulation of more kingdomes and destruction of more men than the sword But in this place since the courage of the mind and excellence of forme contend for the vpper hand I take it from Feature to bestow it on Magnanimitie and spirit since the deeds of the one liue to all posteritie but the frailtie of the other is subiect to euery small infirmitie Therefore Ouid in his booke dearte Amandi thus writes Forma bonum fragile est quantumque accedit ad annos Fit minor Grada carpitur ipse suo c. Form's fraile good as time runnes on it wasts And the more spends it selfe the more it hasts Nor
fire Vpon whose smooth brow cannot â—it a frowne She can make flints seeme feathers bare boords downe I will now trouble thy patience gentle Reader with a discourse that hath in it more mirth than murther and more sport than spight and yet a touch of both A mad fellow newly married had onely one yong child by his wife of some quarter old whom he deerely and tenderly loued as being his first but he was much giuen to good fellowship and shee altogether addicted to sparing and good huswiferie still when he vsed to come merrie from the tauerne where he had beene frollicke with his boone companions she being as sparing of his purse as prodigall of her tongue for she was little better than a skold would often vpbraide him with his expences that what hee wasted at the Tauerne were better bestowed at home that he spent both his mony time and that being so often drunke it was preiudiciall both to his bodie and estate with many such matron-like exhortations but alwaies concluding her admonitions with a vow That if euer he came home againe in that pickle shee would happen what could come fling the child into the moat for the house was moated about It hapned about some two daies after that he reuelling till late in the euening in a cold frostie winters night and she hauing intelligence by her scouts where he was then drinking and making no question but he would come home flustred she commanded her maide to conueigh the infant to the further part of the house and to wrap the cat in the blankets and put it in the cradle and there to sit and rocke it presently home comes the husband shee falls to her old lesson and beginnes to quarrell with him and he with her Ill words begot worse and much leaud language there was betwixt them when the woman on the sudden stepping to the cradle hauing spyde her aduantage I haue long sayth she threatned a mischiefe and that reuenge I cannot worke on thee come dogs come diuells I will inflict vpon the brat in the cradle and instantly snatching it vp in her armes ran with it to the moate side and flung it into the middle of the water which the poore affrighted man following her and seeing leauing to pursue her and crying saue the child ô saue the child in that bitter cold night leapt vp to the elbowes in water and waded till hee brought out the mantell and with much paine comming to the shore and still crying alas my poore child opened the cloathes at length the frighted cat crying mewe being at libertie leapt from betwixt his armes and ran away the husband was both amased and vexed the woman laught at her reuenge and retyred her selfe and the poore man was glad to reconcile the difference before she would yeeld to allow him either fire or dry linnen Considering this me thinkes it was not amisse answered of a gentleman who being persuaded by a friend of his not to marry with such a gentlewoman to whom hee was a suitor his reasons alleadged were because she had no quicke and voluble tongue neither was she of any fine witte or capacitie to whom he instantly replyde I desire to haue a woman to bee my wife that shall haue no more tongue to answer mee to a question than yea or nay or to haue more wit than to distinguish her husbands bed from another mans Another woman hauing a husband who customably came drunke home and shrinking from his stoole or chaire would oft fall vpon the floore and there lie along stil when she cald him to bed he would answer her Let me alone the tenement is mine owne and I may lye where I list so long as I pay rent for the house Some few nights after comming home in the like tune and sitting asleepe in a chaire before the chimney his wife being gone to bed presently the man falls into the fire the maide cryes out to her Mistresse Oh mistresse my master is falne and lyes in the fire euen in the midst of all the fire shee lay still and turning her on the other side sayd so long as hee payes rent for the house he may lye where he please But to more serious businesse for I haue now done sporting Of English Viragoes And of Ioan de Pucil OF Guendoline the wife of king Locrine and daughter to Corinaeus duke of Cornwall I shall take more occasion to speake at large in the discourse of the beautifull Estreld Elphleda was sister to king Edward before the conquest sirnamed the fourth she was wife to Etheldredus duke of Mercia who assisted her husband in the restoring of the citie of Chester after it had beene destroyed and demolished by the Danes encompassing it with new walls he was generall to the king in all his expeditions against the Danes in the last battaile that he fought against them at a place cald Toten Hall in Staffordshire hee gaue them a mightie auerthrow but a greater at Wooddensfield where were slaine two kings two Earles and of the souldiours many thousands which were of the Danes of Northumberland In this battaile were the king and Elphleda both present Soone after this victorie Etheldredus dyed and she gouerned many yeres after him in all Mercia or middle England except in the two cities of London and Oxford which the king her brother reserued to himself She builded many cities and townes and repayred others as Thatarne Brimsbury the bridge vpon Seuerne Tamwoorth Liechfield Stafford Warwicke Shrewsbury Watrisbury Edisbury in the Forrest besides Chester which is since vttery defaced and destroied Also shee built a cittie and a castle in the North part of Mercia which then was cald Runcofan and after Runcorn Thus farre Ranulphus William de regib with others giue her this noble character This Lady hauing once assayde the throwes of childbirth would neuer after bee drawne to haue any carnall societie with her husband alleaging that it was not sitting or seemely for a woman of her degree being a princesse a kings daughter and a kings sister to inure herselfe to such wanton embraces wherof should ensue so great paine and sorrow She tamed the Welchmen and in many conflicts chased the Danes after whose death the king tooke the prouince of Mercia intirely into his owne hand disinherited her daughter Elswina whom he led with him into West-Saxon Henricus lib. 5. hath left this Epitaph as a memoriall ouer her Tombe Oh Elphlede mightie both in strength and mind The dread of men and victoresse of thy kind Nature hath done as much as nature can To make thee maide but goodnesse makes the man Yet pittie thou should'st change ought saue thy name Thou art so good a woman and thy fame In that growes greater and more worthie when Thy feminine valour much out-shineth when Great Caesars acts thy noble deeds excell So sleepe in peace Virago maide farewell Much to this purpose hath Treuisa expressed
these verses in old English Maud the daughter of Henrie the first was married to Henrie the fourth Emperour of that name after the death of her husband she bore the title of Maud the Empresse her father in his life time swore all the nobilitie to her succession but he being dead many fell from their oathes of alleagence adhering to Stephan Earle of Bulleine who by the sisters side was neaphue to the deseased king He notwithstanding he had before sworne to her homage caused himselfe to be crowned at London vpon a Saint Stephens day by William Archbishop of Canturburie one that had before past his oath of alleagence to the Emperesse Much combustion there was in England in those dayes betwixt Maude and Stephan and many battails fought in which the successe was doubtfull the victorie sometimes inclining to the one and againe to the other the circumstances rather would become a large Chronicle than a short tractat I will therefore come to that which sorts best with my present purpose This lady tooke the king in battaile and kept him prisoner at Bristoll from Candlemas day to Hollyrood day in haruest for which victorie the people came against her with procession which was approoued by the Popes legate From Bristoll she came to Winchester thence to Wilton to Oxford to Reding and Saint Albons all the people acknowledging her their queene and soueraigne excepting the Kentishmen onely shee came thence to London to settle the estate of the land whether came the wife of king Stephan for her husbands deliuerie vpon condition that Stephan should surrender the kingdome vp entirely into her hands and betake himselfe euer after to a sequestred and religious life But to this motion the Emperesse would by no meanes assent the Cittisens likewise intreated her that they might vse the fauourable lawes of S. Edward and not those strict and seuere statutes and ordinances deuised established by King Henry her father neither to this would the bold-spirited Lady agree For which the people began to withdraw their affections from her purposed to haue surprised her of which she hauing notice left all her houshold proâ—ision and furniture and secretly conueighed her selfe to Oxford where she attended her forces who were by this time dispersed and diuided But taking with her her Vncle Dauid king of Scots shee came before Winchester laying a strong siege to the bishops tower with was defended by the brother of king Stephan But now obserue another female Warrior The wife of the imprisoned King being denyed his freedome now takes both spirit armes and associated with one William Iperus came with such a thundring terror to rayse the siege that the hardie Empresse to giue way to her present furie was from strength forced to flye to stratageme for finding her powers too weake to withstand the incensed Queene she counterfeited her selfe dead and as a Corse caused her bodie to be conueyed to the citie of Glocester and by this meanes escaped But Robert her brother was there taken prisoner and committed to safe custodie Then the Queene imployed herselfe on the one part for the release of her husband and the Empresse on the other for the enfranchisement of her brother at length after long debating of the businesse it was determined by the Mediators on both sides that Stephan should be restored to the Kingdome and Duke Robert to his Lordship and Earledome and both as they had disturbed the peace of the Land so now to establish it To this the Earle would not assent so that all that yeere there was nothing but spoyle manslaughter direptions and all manner of violence robbing of the rich and oppression of the poore The King vpon Holy-Rood day was released and besieged the Empresse in the citie of Oxford from Michaelmas day to mid-Winter where being oppressed with famine she tooke the aduantage of the Frost and Snow and attyring her selfe all in white escaped ouer the Fennes and came to the castle of Wallingford And so much shall suffice to expresse the magnanimitie and warlike dispositions of two noble and heroicke English Ladies A French Ladie comes now in my way of whom I will giue you a short character In the minoritie of Henry the sixt when France which was once in his entire possession was there gouerned by our English Regents the famous duke of Bedford and others Charles the Dolphin styled after by the name of Charles the seuenth being a Lord wihout land yet at that time maintaining what hostilitie he was able whilest the English forraged through France at their will and commanded in all places at their owne pleasure the French in vtter despaire of shaking off the English yoake there arose in those desperate times one Ioane Are the daughter of Iames Are and his wife Isabel borne in Damprin This Iames was by profession a Shepheard and none of the richest Ioane whom the French afterwards called Ioane de Pucil whilest she was a yong maid and kept her fathers sheepe would report to diuerse That our blessed Ladie S. Agnes and S. Katherine had appeared vnto her and told her That by her meanes France should regayne her pristine libertie and cast off the yoke of English seruitude This comming to the eare of one Peter Bradicourt an eminent captaine then belonging to Charles the Dolphin hee vsed meanes that she should be sent to haue conference with his maister who soiourned then in Chynon in his lowest of deiection and despaire of hope supplie or comfort In her iourney thither shee came to a towne called Faire-boys where taking vp her Inne a place which shee had neuer before seene shee desired a souldier to goe to a secret by-corner where was a heape of old yron and from thence to bring her a Sword The souldier went according to her direction and searching the place amidst a great quantitie of old tongs shouels hand-yrons and broken horse-shooes found a faire bright sword with fiue Flower-delyces vpon either side engrauen This Sword with which she after committed many slaughters vpon the English shee gyrt to her and so proceeded to Chynon to giue the Dolphin meeting Being there arriued Charles concealed himselfe amongst many others whilest she was brought into a faire long gallerie where he had appointed another to take his place and to assume his person she looking vpon him gaue him neither respect nor reueâ—ence but sought out Charles among all the other in that assemblie and pickt him from amongst the rest to whom making a low obeysance she told him that to him only was her businesse The Dolphin at this was amased the rather because she had neuer before seene him and was somewhat comforted by reason that she shewed cheare and alacritie in her countenance they had together long and priuat conference and shortly after she had an armie giuen to bee disposed and â—irected by her Shee then bespake her selfe armour Cap a Pe bearing a white Ensigne displaide before her in which was
pourtrayde the picture of the Sauiour of the world with a flower-de-lyce in his hand and so marched to Orleance Her first exploit was fortunately to raise the siege and releeue the towne From thence shee passed to Reames tooke the cittie and caused the Dolphin there to proclaime himselfe king and take vpon him the crowne of France She after tooke Iargueux a strong towne and in it the Earle of Suffolke with many other braue English gentlemen She fought the great battaile of Pathay with good successe in which were taken prisoners the lord Talbâ—â— the skourge and terror of the French nation the lord Seales the lord Hungerfâ—rd with many others both of name and qualitie she tooke in Benueele Mehun Trois and diuers other townes of great import and consequence at length in a camisado or skirmish she was taken prisoner by sir Iohn of Entenburch a Burgonian captaine and sent to Roan The French Cronicles affirme that the morning before she was surprised she tooke the sacrament and comming from Church told to diuerse that were about her that she was betraide her life sold and should shortly after be deliuered vp vnto a violent death For sir Iohn gaue a great sum of money to betray her The English comming to inuest themselues before Mondidier Ioan was aduised to issue out by Elaâ—ie and skirmish with them who was no sooner out but he shut the gates vpon her being taken she was sent to Peter Bishop of Beuoise who condemned her to the fire for a sorceresse which iudgement was accordingly executed vpon her in Roane in the market place Twentie six yeares after Charles the king for a great summe of money procured an annichilation of the first sentence from the Pope in which she was proclaimed a Virago inspired with diuine instinct in memorie of whose vertuous life and vniust death he caused a faire crosse to â—ee erected iust in the place where her bodie was burned I returne againe to the English Fabian and Harding speake of Emma sister to the Norman duke called Richard who for her extraordinarie beautie was called The flower of Normandie she was married to Ethelred king of England By her heroicke spirit and masculine instigation the king sent to all parts of the kingdome secret and strict commissions That vpon a certaine day and hour assigned all those Danes which had vsurped in the land and vsed great crueltie should be slaughtered which at her behest and the kings commaund was accordingly performed which though it after prooued ominous and was the cause of much miserie and mischiefe yet it shewed in her a noble and notable resolution Of queene Margaret the wife of Henrie the sixt her courage resolution and magnanimitie to speake at large would aske a Volume rather than a compendious discourse to which I am strictly tyed And therefore whosoeuer is deâ—irous to be further instructed in the successe of those many battailes fought against the house of Yorke in which she was personally present I referre them to our English Chronicles that are not sparing in commending her more than womanish spirit to euerlasting memorie With her therefore I conclude my female Martiallists And now me thinkes I am come where I would be and that is amongst you aire Fones Of Faire Women IT is reported of a king that for many yeeres had no issue and desirous to haue an heire of his owne bloud and begetting to succeed in the Throne vpon his earnest supplication to the diuine powers he was blessed with a faire sonne both of beautie and hope And now being possest of what he so much desired his second care was to see him so educated that hee might haue as much comfort of him in his growth as hope in his infancie hee therefore sent abroad to find out the most cunning Astrologians to calculate of his natiuitie that if the starres were any way maleuolent to him at his birth he might by instruction and good education as farre as was possible preuent any disaster that the Planets had before threatened A meeting to that purpose being appointed and the Philosophers and learned men from all parts assembled after much consultation it was concluded amongst them That if the infant saw Sunne or Moone at any time within the space of ten yeeres hee should most assuredly be depriued the benefit of sight all his life time after With this their definitiue conclusion the father wondrously perplexed was rather willing to vse any faire meanes of preuention than any way to tempt the crosse influence of the starres Hee therefore caused a Cell or Caue to be cut out of a deepe Rocke and conueying thither all things necessarie for his education hee was kept there in the charge of a learned tutor who well instructed him in the Theorie of all those Arts which best suited his apprehension The time of ten yeeres being expired and the feare of that ominous calculation past ouer the day was appointed when his purpose was to publish his sonne to the world and to shew him the Sunne and Moone of which he had often heard and till then neuer saw entire and to present vnto his view all such creatures of which he had beene told and read but could distinguish none of them but by heare-say They brought before him a Horse a Dogge a Lion with many other beasts of seuerall kindes of which he onely looked but seemed in them to take small pleasure They shewed him Siluer Gold Plate and Iewels in these likewise hee appeared to take small delight or none as not knowing to what purpose they were vsefull yet with a kind of dull discontent he demanded their names and so past them ouer At length the king commanded certaine beautifull virgins gorgeously attyred to be brought into his presence which the Prince no sooner saw but as recollecting his spirits with a kind of alacritie and change of cheare he earnestly demanded What kind of creatures they were how bred how named and to what vse created To whom his tutor ieastingly replyed These be called Deuills of which I oft haue told you and they are the great tempters of mankind Then his father demanded of him To which of all these things he had beheld he stood affected best and to whose societie hee was most enclined who presently answered O Father I onely desire to be attended by these Deuils Such is the attractiue power of beautie which women cannot fully appropriate to themselues since it is eminent in all other creatures Who wonders not at the beautie of the Sunne the glorie of the Moone and the splendor of the starres the brightnesse of the morning and the faire shutting in of the euening Come to the flowers and plants what artificiall colour can be compared to the leaues of the Marigold the Purple of the Violet the curious mixture of the Gillyflower or the whitenesse of the Lilly to which Salomon in all his glorie was not to be equalled You that are prowd of your haire
The king of England and Francis the first of that name king of France being at oddes Henry was much incensed and appointed Bishop Bonner his Embassadour to debate with him sharpely about the designes then in hand who hauing accommodated all things fitting for the journey came to take his leaue of the king his maister who vttered many bitter and disdainefull words against Francis all tending to his opprobrie and dishonour And in these tearmes sayth hee deliuer vnto him thy Embassie To whom Bonner replyed If it please your Maiestie if I should giue him such harsh and despightfull language and in his owne Court too he can doe no lesse than take off my head Thy head answered the king If hee doe it is no matter but tell him further If hee dares to cut off thy head ten thousand of his subiects heads shall be sent after it To whom Bonner after some small deliberation againe replyed But I am doubtfull my Liege whether any of these ten thousand heads will fit my shoulders in that short answere as well taxing the kings rash furie as prouident for his owne safetie With which the king somewhat satisfied and better considering with himselfe deliuered vnto him a more calme and milder Embassie So though those heads may fauour both of more Iudgement and Reading I am doubtfull whether they could more naturally sute with my owne method and stile though neuer so meane or barbarous Therefore Deo adiuvante Erato assistente I proceede The Spartans had a custome in their solemne feasts to haue a song of three parts sung by three seuerall Chorusses The first was of weake old men The second of yong able men The third of Boyes and pretie growne children The old men began with this verse Olim iuuentutem nos strenuam egimus We haue beene Strong that now Decrepit are To whom the yong men in a second quire answered Sortes sumus nos fac si vis periculum Wee are both Yong and Strong prooue vs who dare To them in a third tone the children ecchoed Nos erimus his prestantiores plurimo With these in Youth and Strength wee shall compare To this three-fold age I compare the triplicitie of the Muses The first three books are by this alredie spent in your iudgements The second three of which this is the last are the pyth and strength of my present worke in hand to which the three succeeding though yet in their infancie I shall striue to paralell if not exceed the rest And first of Chastitie It is reported of a woman of Lacena that a great man sending her rich gifts to corrupt her chastitie she returned him this answere Whilest I was a Virgin I was taught to obey my father which I accordingly did and being a wife to submit my selfe to my husbands will if then you desire any courtesie at my hands get first his consent and you shall after vnderstand my further pleasure Plutarch in Lacon Institut relates that diuerse of these Lacenaean Virgins were taken captiues and sold in open market one of them beeing cheapened was demaunded what she knew she answered To be faithfull Another being asked if he should buy her whether she would proue chast answered Whether he bought her or no she would be chast howsoeuer her maister after seeking to corrupt her she slew herselfe vttering these her last words See what a treasure thou hast lost that knewest not my worth whilest thou wast possessed of me There haue beene many men that haue left vnto women strict rules of Chastitie by their examples Saint Augustine being asked why hee would not suffer his owne sister to dwell in the house with him answered Because such as may conuerse with her are not my sisters intimating that all such as would auoid the sinne ought to shun temptation for he was wont to say It is not good to looke vpon a woman it is worse to conuerse with her but worst of all to touch her Therfore these sences of ours that are most subiect to danger ought most to be supprest and bridled Marul lib. 4. Capit. 7. and Sabin lib. 5. Hierome reports of the Abbot Hylarian That when hee found any vnchast cogitations arise in his brest hee would beate himselfe vpon the bosome as if with blowes and buffets hee would expell them thence and thus sayd I will tame thee ô Asse that thou shalt no more kick and spurne against me with thy heeles I will not henceforth feed thee with Barley but chaffe I will abate thy wantonnesse with hunger and thirst I will loade thy backe with grieuous burdens I will inure thee to the Sommers heate and the Winters cold After which time he vsed the spare dyet of rootes and the iuice of hearbes and these onely when necessitie compelled him to eate Hee inioyned himselfe the time of prayer excepted to strict and continuall labour to increase his appetite but not augment his dyet Therfore Hierom against Lust prescribes these three souereigne remedies fast prayer and hard labour The examples are innumerable as well amongst Ethnick men as Christians Alexander supping with Antipadres there was brought to the table and set iust against the king a wonderous beautifull woman as excellent in voice as in face both tempting so farre that Alexander began suddenly to be surprised with her loue and demaunded of Antipadres If she were a woman whom he any way affected To whom he answered That she was indeered to him aboue all other creatures liuing Then thou foole replyde the king cause her instâ—ntly to rise and be conueyed hence from the banquet How farre then was this temperate Prince from adulterating another mans wife that was affraid to doe his host the least iniurie in his strumpet Therefore Iulianus the Emperour hauing tooke the cittie Nalaca wherein were many women of rare and extraordinarie feature was so farre from corrupting their vertues that he commanded not any of them should be suffered to come in his presence Calius lib. 7. cap. 27. tells vs that so great was the chastitie of the Paduan women in times past that not any of them walked out of their doores but with their faces couered Therefore Caius Salpitius Gallus sued a diuorse against his wife because she was met bare-browed in the streetes against whom he thus pleaded Thou art onely to be gouerned and guided by the lawes of mine eyes thy beautie is to be approoued by them and to please them alone thou oughtest to adorne thy selfe but to desire to seeme faire in the eyes of strangers incurres the imputation both of suspition and trespasse What should wee thinke then of that fantastique attyre and gawdie ornaments so much in vse now adayes which as well in youth as age rather seeme openly to professe lust than inwardly to protect chastitie Of these curiosities in vaine and vnnecessarie attire Plautus in Penâ—lo thus speakes Negotij sibi qui voleâ— vim parare nauem mulierem Hec duo sibi comparato
He that is idle and would businesse haue Let him of these two things himselfe prouide A Woman and a Ship no two things crane More care or cost to suite the one for pride Th' other for tackles they are both like fire For still the more they haue they more desire And this I speake by proofe from morne to noone Their labour and their trauells haue none end To wash to râ—b to wipe and when that 's done To striue whore nothing is amâ—sse to mend To polish and expolish painâ— and staine Vnguents to daube and then wipe out againe c. Now what generall censures these fantasticke garbes and meere importunities incurre if any demaund I answere What lesse than weakenesse of the braine or loosenesse of life This iest following though it be old yet me thinkes it is pittie it should dye vnremembered A gentleman meeting in the streets with a braue gallant wench and richly accommodated seeing her walke with her brests bare almost downe to the middle laying his hand vpon them demaunded of her in her eare whether that flesh were to bee sold who skornefully answered No to whom he modestly replyed Then let me aduise you to shut vp your shop-windowes I will end this monitorie counsell with an Epigram out of Ausonius which beares title of two sisters of vnlike conditions Delia nos miramur est mirabile qoud tam Dissimiles estis c. Wee wonder Delia and it strange appeares Thou and thy sister haue such censure past Though knowne a whore the habit 's chast she woares Thou saue thy habit nothing whorish hast Though than chast life she hath chast habit sought Her Manners her thy Habit makes thee nought In memorie of Virgin chastitie I will cite you one historie out of Marullus lib. 4. cap. 8. The monument of Aegiptae the daughter of Edgar king of England a professed Virgin in her life time beeing opened after shee had many yeares lyen in the graue all her bodie was turned into dust sauing her wombe and bowells and they were as fresh and faire without any corruption as at the first day of her interment Those that stood by wondering at the obiect one Clerke amongst the rest broke foorth into these tearmes Wonder not to see the rest of the bodie to taste of putrifaction and the wombe still sound and perfect which neuer was contaminated with the least stayne or blemish of lust Of her Bishop Danstan thus speakes Worthie is her remembrance to be honoured vpon Earth whose chast life is celebrated amongst the Saints in Heauen O great reward due to Virgin chastitie by which such felicitie is attayned that their soules are not onely glorified in Heauen but their bodies are not subiect to corruption on earth But because the Theame I am next to speake of is of Virgins giue me leaue to begin with the best that euer was since the beginning for Beautie Chastitie and Sanctitie nor shall it be amisse to speake a word or two concerning her Genealogie MARY the Mother of CHRIST was the daughter of Ioachim of the Tribe of Iuda her mothers name was Anna the daughter of Isachar of the Tribe of Leui. Here as S. Hierome obserues is to be noted That Anna and Emeria were two sisters of Emeria came Elizabeth the mother of Iohn Baptist also Anna was first marryed to Ioachim and had by him Mary the mother of Christ and was after espoused to Cleophas by whom she had Mary Cleophe who was marryed to Alphaeus From them two came Iames the lesse surnamed Alphaeus Symon Canâ—â—â—aus Iudas Thaddaus and Ioseph otherwise called Barsabas Eusebius in his Ecclesiasticall Historie Lib. 2. cap. 2. sayth That Iames the lesse was called the Brother of our Lord because hee was the brother of Ioseph the husband of Mary but his opinion is not altogether authenticall Also Anna was espoused to Salome and had by him Mary Salome after marryed to Zebedeus and had by him Iâ—mes the greater and Iohn the Euangelist Ioseph the husband of Mary was the brother of Cleophas It is also obserued That in the one and fortieth yeere of the reigne of Augustus Caesar in the seuenth moneth which is September in the eleuenth day of the Moone which is the foure and twentieth day of the moneth on a Thursday Iohn Baptist was conceiued and two hundred threescore and fifteene dayes after on a Fryday was borne So that he was the fore-runner of Christ both in his Conception his Birth his Baptisme his Preaching and his Death A woman goeth with child two hundred threescore and sixteene dayes for so long by computation was Christ in the wombe of the blessed Virgin though all women goe not so long with child as S. Augustine obserues Lib. 4. de Ciuitate Dei cap. 5. So that Christ was longer in the wombe by a day and more than S. Iohn Baptist. Iohn also was borne when the dayes began to shorten and wane and Christ when the dayes began to waxe long Concerning these Antiquities I conclude with a sentence of S. Augustines Against Reason sayth hee no sober man will dispute against the Scripture no Christian man contest and against the Church no religious man oppose And so I proceed to the Historie Of MARY the Blessed Virgin LEt it not be held vnnecessarie or appeare out of course amongst these Virgins to insert a historie memorable for the â—arenesse thereof to all posteritie Iohannes Wyerius in his booke intituled de Prestigijs demonum hath collected it out of Suidas In the time that Iâ—stinianuâ— was Emperour there was a prince amongst the Iewes whose name was Theodosius He hauing great acquaintance and familiaritie with one Philippâ—s a Christian a bancker or one that dealt in the exchange of money for hee was called Philippus Argentarius this Philip did often sollicite and exhort him to leaue his Iudaisme and be a conuertite and turne to the Christian religion to whom he aunswered Indeed he must ingeniosly confesse he made no question but that Iesus whom the Christians adored was the same Messias of whom the holie Prophets foretold yet he could not bee persuaded to relinquish the honours and profits that he had amongst his owne nation and giue himselfe vp to a name which they knew not or at least would not acknowledge yet that he beleeued so of Christ he was not onely persuaded by the Oracles of the holie Prophets but he found it approoued by a certaine mysterie namely a writing most charily still kept amongst the Iewes in a place most safe and secret where their choise records with the especiallest care and trust are reserued which was of this nature It was a custome amongst the Iewish nation at what time the holie Temple was yet standing in Ierusalem to haue continually the number of twentie two chiefe and selected Priests iust so many as there bee letters in the Hebrew language or bookes of the old Testamenâ— and so often as any one of these was taken away by
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
comely that the nether part of my smocke should be â—â—â—ned up and kisse the lippes of my lord at which the duke was much delighted And that night was begot Williaâ— the Bastard whom our Chronicles honour with the name of Conqueror whether at first in memorie of this least or since in disgrace of the Wanton it is not decided But from that Harlotta or Arlotta our prostitutes and common wenches â—re to this day in our vulgar Tongue called Harlots In the yeere of our Lord 1036 Henry the second Emperour of that name was marryed to Guinilde the daughter of Canâ—tus a Dâ—ne and king of England This Empeâ—our had a sister a professed Nunne whom he loued so entirely that oft times he would haue her lye in his owne Pallace and neere to his owne priuie chamber It happened in a cold Winters night a Chaplaine belonging to the Court it seemes to keepe her the warmer and one that had beene before much suspected lay with her and in the morning least both their footings should be seene in the Snow newly fallen that night shee tooke him vp and carryed him out of the Court towards his chamber The Emperour chancing as his custome was to rise iust at the same houre was spectator of this close conueyance and beheld how all the businesse happened Not long after fell a Bishopricke which the Priest expected and a Nunnerie which the Nunne much desired Whereupon the Emperour calling them before him the one after the other Take that Benefice saith he to the Priest but saddle no more the Nunne And you the Abbesse saith hee to his Sister saddle no more the Priest or looke thou neuer more beare Clerke riding vpon thy backe It is said that this serued after for a modest chiding betwixt them and that they were parted vpon these friendly tearmes Of diuerse Wantons belonging to sundry famous men and others ARistophanes Appollodorus Ammonius Antiphanes and Georgia Atheniensis of your Athenian strumpets haue writ at large as also of the like argument Theomander Cyrenaus Eleus Amasides Theophrastus in libro Amatorio Polemon de Tabellis lib. 3. Ouid and infinite others out of whom may be collected many famous wantons in their times Ocymus is the name of a strumpet much beloued of a skilfull Sophist in Corinth Thalatra of Diocles Corianno of Pherecrates Antea of Philillius otherwise called Eunicus Thais and Phannium of Menander Opora of Alexis Clepsydra of Eubulus for so Asclepiades the sonne of Arius reports in his Commentarie vpon Demetrius Phalareus where hee affirmes her proper name to be rather Methica which Antiphanes writes to be the name of a wanton The Poet Timocles speakes of Cina Nannium Plangon Lyca Pithionica Myrhina Chrisis Conallis Ieroclea Lopadium Of these likewise Amphis makes mention Anaxandries in his description of the madnesse of old men amongst others hee reckons vp Lagisca and Theolyte Polemon the Historiographer speakes of one Cottina whose Statue is erected in the citie of Lacedemon not farre from the Temple of Dionisius she is mounted vpon a brasen Bull. Alcibiades was beloued by a woman of Aegida of whom hee was likewise amorous after relinquishing Athens and Lacena of one Meâ—ontide of Abidos and with her sayled through the Hellespont with Axiochâ—s a friend of his and much deuoted to his fellowship for so the Orator Lysias witnesseth of him in an Oration made against him Hee had two other mistresses with whom hee was conuersant Damasandra the mother of Lais Iunior and Theodota by whom hee was preserued when remaining in Melissa a citie of Phrygia Pharnabazus layd traines entrap his life Abrotonax was the mother of Themistocles a strumpet as Amphicrates relates Neanthes Cyzicenus a Greeke Historiographer calls him the sonne of Euterpe The second Philodelphus king of Aegypt had many famous Concubines as Ptolomaeus Eâ—â—rgetes in his Commentaries witnesseth Didima and Bilistiche besides these Agathoclea and Stratonica whose monument was erected in the sea Elâ—sina Myrtium with many others Polybius in his foureteenth booke of Histories remembers one Clino that was his Cup-bearer in whose honor many Statues were erected in Alexandria Mnesides a shee-Musitian of the citie Mnesis and one Pothinae his most delicate houses in which he tooke much delight he was wont to call after the name of two of his Paramours eyther Myrtiae or Pothinae Timothaeus the great Captaine of the Athenians was knowne to be the sonne of a common woman of Threissa which being obiected to him as an aspersion hee answered I am glad to haue beene borne of such a mother that had the wisedome to chuse Conon to bee my father Caristius in his Historicall Commentaries auerres Phileterus who soueraignized in Pergamus and the new Region called Boca to be the sonne of a wanton shee-Minstrell borne in Paphlagonia Aristophon the Orator who in the reigne of king Euclides published a Law That all such as were not borne of ciuile and free women approued for their modestie and temperance should be held as bastards yet hee himselfe is mocked by the Comicke Poet Calliades for being the sonne to the Prostitute Chorides as may appeare in the third booke of his Commentaries Of Lamia the strumpet the king Demetrius had a daughter called Phila Polemon affirmes Lamia to haue been the daughter of Cleonor the Athenian Machon the Comick Poet numbers Leaena amongst this kings mistresses with many others Ptolomaeus the sonne of Agesarchus in his Historie of Philopater speaking of the mistresses of kings bestowes Philinna a Dancer vpon Philip of Macedon by whom he had Aridaeus who succeeded after Alexander Damo was the delight of Antigonus by whom he had Alcyonaeus Mysta and Nisa were the beloued of Seleucus Iunior and Mania most famous for her wit and ingenious discourse of Demetrius Poliorcetes Of her Machon the Poet writes much as also of Gnathaena who with Depithaea were said to be two Lasses much beloued of the Poet Diphilus The citie of Athens was so full of famous strumpets that Aristophanes Byzantius reckon'd vp at one time 135. but Appollodorus more so likewise Gorgias as these Parenum Lampride Euphrosine the daughter of a Fuller of Cloth Megista Agaellis Thaumarium Theoclea otherwise called Corone Lenetocistus Astra Gnathaena with two neeces by her daughter Gnathenum and Siga Synoris sirnamed Lichnus Euclea Grammea Thriallis Chimaera Lampas Glicera Nico sirnamed Capra Hippe Metanira of whom many things worthie obseruation are remembred One Sapho is likewise numbred amongst these loose ones not Sapho the Lyrick Poetresse but another borne of a strumpet Many Roman wantons may here likewise not vnfitly be inserted as some related others beloued and celebrated by them in their Poems as Ipsithilla of Catullus Quintilia of Caluus Licinius Lyde of Calimachus Bathis of Phileta Lycinea and Glicera of Horace Leucadia of Terentius Varro Arecinus Delia Sulpitia Nemesis Neaera all these affected by Tibullus Hostia otherwise called Cinthia by
by Plinie who in one day brought forth two children the one like her maister and the other like another man with whom she had had companie and being borne deliuered either child to his father Lathris was the Handmaid to Cinthia so much spoken by Propert. as Cypassis was to Cersinna the mistresse of Ouid of whom he thus writes Eleg. Lib. 2. Commendis in mille modis praefecta capillis Comere sed solas digna Cipasse Deas She rules her mistresse hayre her skill is such A thousand seuerall wayes to her desires O worthie none but Goddesses to touch To combe and decke their heads in costly Tyres Chionia was Handmaid to the blessed Anastasia so likewise was Galanthis to Alcmena the mother of Hercules of whom the same Author Lib. 9. thus sayes Vna ministrarum media de plebe Galanthis Flaua comas aderat faciendis strenua iussis Amidst them all Galanthis stood With bright and yellow haire A wench that quicke and nimble was Things needfull to prepare From Handmaids I proceed to Nurses Annius vpon Berosus and Calderinus vpon Statius nominate Caphyrna or Calphurnia the daughter of Oceanus to haue beene the Nurse of Neptune as Amalthea and Melissa were to Iupiter who fed him with the Milke of a Goat in his infancie when hee was concealed from his father Hence it came that the Poets fabled how Iupiter was nursed by a Goat for which courtesie hee was translated amongst the starres Others say he was nursed by Adrastea and Ida the two daughters of king Melisaeus for so Erasmus teacheth in the explanation of the Adage Copiae Cornu Ino was the Nurse of Bacchus as Ouid witnesseth in Ib. where he likewise calls her the Aunt to Bacchus in this Verse Vt teneri Nutrix eadem Matertera Bacchi Of the same opinion with him is Statius Lib. 2. Silu. But Ammonius Grammaticus makes Fesula the woman that gaue him sucke Plinie calls her Nisa and saith shee was buried neere to the citie Scythopolis Polycha was the Nurse of Oedipus who fostered him when his father Laius cast him out in his infancie because the Oracle had fore-told he should perish by the hand of his sonne Barce was the Nurse to Sychaeus the most potent and rich king of the Phoenicians and husband to Dido Her Virgil remembers Aenead Lib. 4. Charme was Nurse to the Virgin Scilla of whom the same Author in Syri thus sayes Illa autem quid nunc me inquit Nutricula torques i. Why ô Nurse doest thou thus torment me Beroe Epidauria was Nurse to Cadmeian Semele the mother of Bacchus as Aceste was to the daughters of Adrastus Stat. Lib. 1. Theb. Eupheme is memorated to be the Nurse to the Muses shee had a sonne called Erotus who inhabited the Mountaine Pernassus and was wholly deuoted to Hunting and the Chafe Spaco was Nurse to Cyrus who because that word in the Median Language signifies a Bitch Cyrus was said to be nursed by a Brache for so saith Herodotus in Clio. Archimorus the sonne of Licurgus king of Thrace whose Nurse was called Hypsiphile being left by her in the fields was fed by a Serpent Teste Statio Ericlia or Euriclia was the Nurse to Vlysses Homer in Odyss and Ouid. in Epist. Caieta was Nurse to Aeneas Lib. 7. Aenead Tu quoque littoribus nostris Aeneia Nutrix Aeternam moriens famam Caieta dedisti And thou Aeneas Nurse Caieta Vnto our Shores hast left A neuer dying fame because There of thy life bereft Alcibiades had a Nurse whose name was Amicla or as some would haue it Amida his schoolemaster was Zopyrus so saith Plutarch in Lycurg Alcibiad Hellanice was the Nurse to Alexander the great witnesse Qu. Curtius Acca Lauentia was Nurse to Romulus so saith Plinie li. 18. ca. 2. so Statius li. 1. Sil. in this Distican I am secura parens Thuscis regnabat in agris Ilia portantem lassabat Romulus Accam Our parent Ilia now secure The Tuskan waters keepes The whilest in Accaes wearied armes Young Romulus fast sleepes Yet Liuie and almost all the Roman Historiographers write that Romulus and Remus were nourst by Lupa wife to the sheepeheard Faustulus she was so called because she prostituted her selfe for gaine they were cast out by the king Amulius and was found by the bounds of Tiber. Plinie calls her Acca Laurentia Philix was Nurse to the Emperor Domitian who when he was slaine and his corse lay derided and neglected tooke vp his bodie and putting it in a common Beare caused it by ordinarie and mercinarie bearers to be carried to the suburbs wherein she liued and interred it in the Latine highway Author Sueton. Macrina was a pious and religious woman the disciple and scholler of Gregorie Neocaesariensis she was Nurse and schole mistresse in the first foundation of Christian religion to the great Basilius as he himselfe witnesseth in an Epistle to the Neocaesarienses From Nurses a word or two of Midwiues Phanarite was one the mother of Athenean Socrates she is remembred to be the first that disputed of Morality that which we cal Ethick Instructions and taught the mysticall Philosophie of the Starres and Planets how it might be made familiar and haue correspondence with our humane and terrestriall actions The sonne imitated the mother and prooued as happie a Midwife of the mind as she of the bodie both helping into the world ripe timely and fruitfull issues Volateran lib. 19. Laertius in eius vita and Valerius Maxim lib. 3. cap. 4. Plinie lib. 28. cap. 7. speakes of two Midwiues the one called Sotyra the other Salpe whose opinions and rules he obserueth in the cures of many diseases of Salpe he speakes more largely lib. 32. cap. 6. Lycosthenes speakes of one Philippa Midwife to Iolanta who indured many distresses and changes of fortune Of Stepmothers I will only name some few and so passe them ouer because where they be can be exprest nothing but malice and vnnaturall crueltie in women The histories must of force appeare harsh and vnpleasant besides some of their bloodie acts I haue touched before vnder another title Ino was Sepmother to Phrixus and Helles the daughter of Athamus Hyppodamia to Chrisippus Stratonice to Antiochus Soter Iulia to Anton. Caracalla Gedica to Cominius Iuno to Hercules Opaea to Scylis king of Scithia Eribaea to Mercurie Alphriga to Edward the second of that name before the Conquest king of England Martina to Constantinus Heraclius who she slew by poison c. Of Women for their Pietie and Deuotion remembred in the sacred Scriptures I Desire to leaue nothing vnspecified or not remembred in this worke that might not make the excellencie of good Women oppose in all contradiction the excesse of the bad and to draw if it were possible the worst to the imitation of the best Hanapus c. 125.
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